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diff --git a/20117.txt b/20117.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3a55fd --- /dev/null +++ b/20117.txt @@ -0,0 +1,30184 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Chatterbox, 1905., by Various + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Chatterbox, 1905. + + +Author: Various + + + +Release Date: December 15, 2006 [eBook #20117] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHATTERBOX, 1905.*** + + +E-text prepared by Susan Skinner, Juliet Sutherland, and the Project +Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net/) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 20117-h.htm or 20117-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/1/1/20117/20117-h/20117-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/1/1/20117/20117-h.zip) + + + + + +CHATTERBOX + +[Illustration: Chatterbox] + +Founded by J. Erskine Clarke, M.A. + + + + + + + +Boston: Dana Estes & Company, 212 Summer Street. + +Copyright, 1878, by ESTES & LAURIAT. Copyright, 1879, by ESTES & LAURIAT. +Copyright, 1880, by ESTES & LAURIAT. Copyright, 1881, by ESTES & LAURIAT. +Copyright, 1882, by ESTES & LAURIAT. Copyright, 1883, by ESTES & LAURIAT. +Copyright, 1884, by ESTES & LAURIAT. Copyright, 1885, by ESTES & LAURIAT. +Copyright, 1886, by ESTES & LAURIAT. Copyright, 1887, by ESTES & LAURIAT. +Copyright, 1888, by ESTES & LAURIAT. Copyright, 1889, by ESTES & LAURIAT. +Copyright, 1890, by ESTES & LAURIAT. Copyright, 1891, by ESTES & LAURIAT. +Copyright, 1892, by ESTES & LAURIAT. Copyright, 1893, by ESTES & LAURIAT. +Copyright, 1894, by ESTES & LAURIAT. Copyright, 1895, by ESTES & LAURIAT. +Copyright, 1896, by ESTES & LAURIAT. Copyright, 1897, by ESTES & LAURIAT. +Copyright, 1898, by DANA ESTES & CO. Copyright, 1899, by DANA ESTES & CO. +Copyright, 1900, by DANA ESTES & CO. Copyright, 1901, by DANA ESTES & CO. +Copyright, 1902, by DANA ESTES & CO. Copyright, 1903, by DANA ESTES & CO. +Copyright, 1904, by DANA ESTES & CO. Copyright, 1905, by DANA ESTES & CO. + +Presswork by +Colonial Press: C. H. Simonds & Co. +Boston, U.S.A. + + + + +CONTENTS. + +[Illustration] + +1905. + + + Page +A Boy's Heroism 179 +A Coat of Paint 319 +Advice that Saved a King's Life 279 +A Fair-sized Field 358 +Affectionate Eagles 71 +Afloat on the Dogger Bank 188, 198, 202, 214, 218, 226, 238, 242, + 253, 258, 266, 277, 285, 291, 300, 308, + 317, 324, 334, 342, 346, 354, 366, 374, + 378, 386, 398, 402, 410 +A Hundred Years Ago 15, 34, 142, 163, 210, 322, 382 +A Kindly Visit 3 +A Lesson in Steering 127 +All Prime Ministers 243 +A Monkey's Memory 11 +A Mother Rabbit's Courage 122 +A Motor-car of the Past 331 +Anecdotes 98, 130, 167, 195, 230, 262, 290, 339, + 371, 394 +Animal Makeshifts 220, 251, 275, 340, 371, 397 +An Impression of Zanzibar 391 +An Indian Custom 22 +An Ocean Policeman 19 +An Old-fashioned Grace 109 +A Novel Rain Protector 58 +A Queer Address on a Post-card 390 +A Peep at Northern Italy 247 +A Sparrow's Coolness 183 +A Story of Stanley 87 +A Stroll amongst Ferns 358 +A Strong Motive 299 +A Timely Rescue 259 + +Chased by Seagulls 63 +Clever Billy 323 +Cruisers in the Clouds 2, 62, 98, 154, 190, 223, 250, 266, 298, + 346, 370, 395 +Cuban Lizards 119 +Curious Names in London City 110 + +Diamonds 299 +Doctor Abernethy's Advice 263 + +Earning an Honest Penny 110 +Eastern Jugglers 197 +Encounters with Lions 311 +Encouragement 133 +Ethel's Orange-plant 339 + +Faith and Sight 211 +Freed in Vain 3 +Frost-bitten in the Red Sea 187 + +Generosity 251 +Gemmal Rings 315 +George II. at Dettingen 38 +'Ginger for Pluck' 114 + +Heroes and Heroines of Famous Books 38, 42, 166, 171, 274, 351, 354 +He set the Example 246 +His First Wolf Hunt 390, 406 +How Hetais Wore his Medal 359 + +Indian Wireless Telegraphy 395 +Insect Ways and Means 29, 43, 77, 109, 149, 179, 211, 237, + 261, 283, 307, 357, 364, 387 +In the Snow 373 + +Japanese Plums 146 +Jim's Shower-bath 227 + +Life in Bohemia 282 + +Magic Rods 122 +May Day 143 +McLeod of Clere 66, 78, 82, 90 +Mice on a Submarine 279 + +Nature's Noblemen 158 +Never Caught It 270 +Never draw a Sword except in a Cause that is Just and Right 170 +Nicolo in Vienna 411 +No Hurry 155 +Nothing is Perfect 18 +Not the same Thing 146 + +Old Conduits 323 +One Good Turn deserves Another 306 +One More Chance 295 +One was Missing 287 +Outwitting Himself 255 + +Philip Wood and Sir Christopher Wren 314 +Pussy's Playmate 287 +Puzzlers for Wise Heads 30, 58, 98, 130, 167, 195, 230, 263, + 290, 339, 371, 395 + +Rat-skins 270 +Ready! 283 +Regiments in the City 350 +Rice-paper 203 +Rudel and Lisbeth 150 + +Saved by the Enemy 51 +Saved by Twenty Guineas 47 +Served her Right 207 +Smithfield Tournaments 170 +Spy or Guide? 394 +Steeple-climbers 74 +Strange Children 290 + +The Admiral and the Fisherman 50 +The Best Beginning 98 +The Best Lesson 11 +The Black Leopard 234 +The Black Swan 364 +The Boy Tramp 6, 12, 22, 26, 34, 44, 54, 58, 69, 74, 85, + 94, 102, 106, 117, 125, 134, 138, 146, + 158, 162, 173, 181, 187, 194 +The Captain and the Invalid 66 +The Captain's Cigar 90 +The Captain's Turn First 47 +The Cashmere Stag 231 +The Castle Light 10 +The Chinese Laundryman 382 +The Cow-tree 307 +The Cypher Telegram 123, 130 +The Duke and the Traveller 167 +The Duke of Wellington's Head Gardener 219 +The Eagle's Nest 349 +The Elephant and the Crocodile 78 +The Feast of Cherries 175 +The Flower-girl 207 +The Frog and the Geese 22 +The Gate-keeper of Rambouillet 231 +The Generous Bakers 71 +The Girl who Did Not Run Away 130 +The Great Northern Diver 133 +The Hidden Room 327, 330, 338 +The Indian Chief and the Bishop 11 +The Intruding Squirrel 186 +The Jumping Mouse 299 +The Legend of Helfenstein 63 +The Lime or Linden 98 +The Little Bush-boy 155 +The Man with the Glasses 213 +The Mysterious Chest 30 +The Old Clock 271 +The Parks of London 205, 245, 270 +The Pitcher-plant 221 +The Poet Crabbe's First School 234 +The Potato 263 +The Puff-adder 90 +The Reason Why 107 +The Sago-tree 210 +The Story of Slate 186 +The Teal 53 +The Teeth of Hyenas 231 +The Wreck of the _Hope_ 391 +Torn to Rags 178 +Toys from the Streets 379, 389, 403 +Twenty Pounds Reward 362 +Two Medals 219 +Two Ways of Reading a Sentence 150 + +Ulrich's Opportunity 234 + +Whalebone 50 +What Katie Heard 303 +White Negroes 178 +Without a Hen to Buy Stamps 143 +Wonderful Caverns 18, 51, 83, 115, 139, 195, 229, 294, + 315, 332, 363 + + + + +POETRY. + + + Page +A Busy World 382 +Against Odds 406 +Bouquets 66 +Discontent brings Dulness 157 +Don't Begin 244 +Fairy Song 350 +Good-bye to the Last Fire 163 +Good-night, Good-day! 50 +Growing Up 115 +How Tom Dresses 282 +Invitations 148 +Jack's Wish 259 +My Friend 38 +My Garden Concert 63 +My Picture-book 234 +One and One make Two 222 +Our Puss 122 +Sad Company in the Nursery 299 +Take Care of the Days 47 +The Bat and the Ball 142 +The Contented Pansy 358 +The Father of All 279 +The Fox's Serenade 306 +The Friendly Light 29 +The Great Picture-book 186 +The Jealous Kittens 101 +The Lover-doll 390 +The Naughty Kittens 11 +The Pioneers 170 +The Promise of the Storm 394 +The Rabbit and the Hare 331 +The Slate's Story 371 +The Song of the Broom 294 +The Startled Hares 92 +The Trumpet and the Drum 227 +The Two Dolls 315 +The Way to Win 3 +The Weather Sprites 195 +Too Clever 178 +Too Tempting to be Lost 204 +Travellers' Tales 134 +Waiting 22 +Welcome to the First Fire 323 +What am I? 214 +What Insects Love 342 +Why the Sea Sobs 363 +Willie's Sum 251 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +COLOURED PLATES. + +"Why Should We Wait Till To-morrow?" _Frontispiece_ +Home for the Holidays, facing p. 64 +On a Voyage of Discovery, facing p. 128 +All Hands to the Pump, facing p. 192 +Crossing the Brook, facing p. 256 +Good News of the Boy, facing p. 320 + + Page +A Cliff-dwelling of North America 229 +A Corner of Hyde Park 205 +A Countryman's Well-deserved Rebuke 17 +Afloat on the Dogger Bank (Illustrations to), 189, 200, 201, 216, 217, + 225, 240, 241, 253, 257, + 268, 277, 285, 292, 301, + 309, 317, 325, 336, 344, + 348, 356, 368, 376, 377, + 385, 400, 401, 409 +'After all, I will wait' 93 +'A great number of seagulls were chasing the fugitive' 64 +'A horseman galloped to the spot in the hope of + finding them still alive' 153 +A Monkey's Memory 12 +Andree's Departure for the North Pole 297 +An Eastern Snake Charmer 197 +Animal Makeshifts (Illustrations to), 220, 221, 252, 276, 341, 372, 397 +An Ocean Policeman 20 +An Old-fashioned Motor-car 332 +A Peep at Northern Italy 248 +A Picture Puzzle 28 +A Scene in Clissold Park 245 +A Scene in Regent's Park 269 +'As we cleared the water we could hear the wolves close behind' 403 + +'Billy allowed the letter to be taken' 324 +'"Boh! Boh!" the clear voice shouted' 81 + +Chinese Laundrymen 381 +Cliff-dwelling, New Mexico, and Cave-pottery 333 +Cuban Lizards 120 + +'Daisy soon grew clever at keeping the head to the wind' 128 + +East Front of the Rock Temple of Elephanta 140 +Entrance to the Grotto of La Balme 316 + +'Fight against my country! Not for the ransom of a king!' 49 +Fingal's Cave, Staffa 52 + +Hans Christian Andersen 164 +'He could hardly find words to welcome them' 5 +'He deliberately lighted a cigar with a scrap of the burning rope' 89 +'He hit out with all his force' 349 +'He loaded the children with cherry branches' 176 +'He looked wistfully at the pair of crutches' 124 +'He ran towards the bull and opened his umbrella quickly' 260 +'He saw an old man, who seemed to be very weary' 353 +'He started, and let the lancet fall' 280 +'He steered his balloon round the Eiffel Tower' 369 +'He told his son he would disinherit him and turn him out of doors' 40 +'His grandfather lay gagged and bound on the floor' 9 +'How dare you strike me when you know God can see you?' 165 +'How it tasted--well, I've never heard' 204 +'How would you like to earn twenty pounds reward?' 361 + +'I am afraid I have no berth here for you, my lad' 305 +'I am worth something when I can call that brave boy my son' 152 +'I cannot bear to sit out here' 21 +'I don't know what to do' 157 +'If you hang him, you shall hang me too' 169 +'I got these easily from the cellar' 329 +Insect Ways and Means (Illustrations to), 29, 44, 77, 109, 149, 180, + 212, 237, 261, 284, 308, + 357, 364, 388 +'I saw it first--'tis mine--let go!' 244 +'It hopped into the space between the rails' 184 +'It is a terrible thing, is a wreck on this coast' 392 +'It is good! very good' 313 +'It rose at once to the ceiling' 1 +'It was fortunate that we put them off the scent' 132 +'"I will add this too, lady," said the pedlar' 337 +'I will take care of Boh' 80 + +'Jack worked with a will' 320 +'Jim got a terrible drenching' 228 +'Just as Lord Massereene was leaving the prison, he was arrested' 209 + +'Katie stood on the doorstep' 304 + +'Live on sixpence a day--and earn it' 264 +'Look out, father, they are going to shoot you' 118 + +'Maung and his young companion came to what they sought at last' 68 + +'May turned away, feeling ashamed and miserable' 340 +'M. Charles stepped into the blue and golden car' 100 +'My master wishes to speak with you' 352 + +Nicolo and the Krampus 412 +'No, little lass, I do not want any flowers' 112 + +October 21st, 1805 321 +'One bolder than the rest stabbed it with a pitchfork' 61 +'One pig went squealing down the road' 177 + +'Paralysed with fear, he clung to the bough' 4 +'Please do not shoot me' 393 + +'See what my speckled hen has hatched' 328 +'Seven miles high!' 265 +'Shame on you all, to hit a helpless man' 16 +'She could hardly stand still while Alice tied the ribbon on' 114 +'She managed to drag her on shore' 129 +'She was just high enough, and could light the lamps' 41 + +The Best Beginning 97 +The Black Leopard 233 +The Black Swan of Australia 365 +'The bottle stood in the air as though hanging there' 396 +The Boy Tramp (Illustrations to), 8, 13, 24, 25, 36, 45, 56, 60, + 69, 76, 85, 96, 104, 105, 117, + 125, 136, 137, 148, 160, 161, + 173, 181, 193 +'The cat washed the jackdaw in its turn' 289 +'The commanding officer advanced towards the bier' 360 +The Death of a Deserter 33 +The Deerslayer in the hands of the Indians 172 +'The driver heard them, and reversed his engine' 224 +'The dog hailed his master as he passed' 345 +'The eagle seized its wounded mate with its beak and claws' 72 +'The empty branch bore a label' 145 +The First Post-office in the Sky 192 +The Giant's Hall, Luray 293 +'The grateful mother handed the doctor a handsome pocket-book' 256 +The Grottoes of Han in the Ardennes 116 +The Great-Northern Diver 133 +'The horse nearly carried the King into the French lines' 37 +The Jealous Kittens 101 +The Jumping Mouse 300 +'The little bush-boy appeared' 156 +The Mammoth Cave, Kentucky 84 +The Man with the Glasses 218 +'The men set to work to load their muskets' 272 +'The other passengers thought him mad' 57 +'The peacock took all her play in good part' 288 +'The rabbit bit the stoat in the most infuriated manner' 121 +The Rock Temple of Kailus at Ellora 196 +'The sailor-pupil climbed into the car' 249 +'The second lion seized him' 312 +The Simplon Pass 141 +'The soldiers forgot the prisoner, and scrambled for the money' 48 +'The stag stayed by his mate's body' 232 +The Teal 53 +'The two were soon locked in fight' 384 +'The women of Bohemia act as bricklayers labourers' 281 +'The woodpecker fled in fear' 185 +'They burnt the Shakespeare, breaking the spell' 88 +'They came hopping in, Paul an easy first' 92 +'They stumbled along, supporting the stranger as best they could' 373 +''Tis the very man!' 273 +Toys from the Streets (Illustrations to), 380, 389, 404 + +'We charged at the midst of the foe' 405 +'We will see where this rat came from' 32 +'What is it?--a fire? Speak, boy!' 236 +'Who'll buy?' 208 +'Wootton stood quite upright on the pinnacle of the steeple' 73 +'Would you take a message of importance for me?' 168 + +'Your Majesty is certainly wrong' 108 +'"You shall go," said the captain, "if I lose every passenger"' 65 +'You young rascal' 296 + + + + +Chatterbox. + + +[Illustration: "It rose at once to the ceiling."] + + + + +CRUISERS IN THE CLOUDS. + +I.--THE TWO BROTHERS OF ANNONAY AND THEIR PAPER BALLOON. + + +In the chimney corner of a cottage in Avignon, a man sat one day +watching the smoke as it rose in changing clouds from the smouldering +embers to the sooty cavern above, and if those who did not know him had +supposed from his attitude that he was a most idle person, they would +have been very far from the truth. + +It was in the days when the combined fleets of Europe were thundering +with cannon on the rocky walls of Gibraltar, in the hope of driving the +English out, and, the long effort having proved in vain, Joseph +Montgolfier, of whom we have spoken, fell to wondering, as he sat by the +fire, how the great task could be accomplished. + +'If the soldiers and sailors could only fly,' he thought, 'there would +be no difficulty.' He looked at a picture of the Rock lying on the table +beside him, and saw many places on its summit very suitable for such +flying foes to settle on. 'But, ah! who could give them wings?' He +turned to the fireplace, and his eyes fell once more on the column of +smoke, silently, silently rising; and yet not so silently as the world +might think, for though he had not yet quite understood its meaning, +Joseph Montgolfier had been striving for some time past to learn the +lesson which he felt sure it was to teach him at last. And to-day the +secret came out. Thoughts so active as his did not take long to get from +Gibraltar back to the smoke, and they had not been there many minutes +when Montgolfier jumped from his seat, and, throwing open the door of +the room, called to his landlady. A great idea had occurred to him, and, +to carry it out, he required some light, silky material, called taffeta. +This the good landlady quickly supplied, and when she entered the room +some time later, she found her lodger holding the taffeta, which he had +formed into a bag, over the fire. As the smoke filled it, it certainly +showed an inclination to rise, but once out of reach of the warmest glow +it toppled over and collapsed on the floor. + +The landlady watched the experiments for some time in silence. Then, +with a little laugh, she said, 'Ah, M. Montgolfier, why do you not tie +the fire to the bag?' + +The great inventor had not thought of that; but he did not require to be +told twice, and obtaining a little bunch of some inflammable material, +he tied it under his bag and set it on fire. The smoke and heat inflated +the tiny balloon, and it rose at once to the ceiling. A few minutes +later the inventor called for pen and ink, and wrote the following +letter: + +'Prepare without delay a supply of taffeta and cordage, and you shall +see one of the most astonishing things in the world.' + +This hasty note was addressed to M. Stephen Montgolfier at Annonay, near +Lyons, and never was a request made that was more likely to be carefully +and promptly granted. Stephen Montgolfier, like his brother, had busy +thoughts concerning means for rising in the air, and when Joseph +returned from Avignon, they set to work with stronger hope of realising +their dreams. As they were the largest and best paper-makers in Annonay, +they did not lack material for carrying on experiments, and when these +experiments had repeatedly resulted in success, they decided that the +rest of the world should be admitted into their secret. A large balloon, +made of paper and taffeta, should be inflated in the public square, and +be allowed to rise before the eyes of any who might gather there to see +it. And they carried out this determination on June 5th, 1783. On that +day there assembled at Annonay a number of local celebrities, and no +better opportunity could have been chosen. + +In the public square a large circular space was railed off to keep the +crowd at a proper distance, and in the centre of this space rose a +wooden platform to accommodate the new cloud-ship and the fire which was +to fill it with the power of flight. Never had the brothers Montgolfier +had a busier morning; never had the good people of Annonay seen such +excitement in their quiet village. The crowd had gathered from far and +near, and watched the busy workers round the mysterious platform with +widely different thoughts. Some were silent with expectation, some +jeered noisily; but, unconscious of praise or laughter, the two brothers +directed their little band of workmen, confident of coming triumph. + +At last the specially invited guests had all arrived, and when they were +accommodated with seats, one of the brothers made a little speech of +explanation, ending with the remark that he would apply a torch to the +heap of chopped straw and wool beneath the platform. The smoke arising +from these different kinds of fuel formed, when combined, he said, the +most suitable gas for raising a substance into the air. These diligent +brothers, however, had only partly learned the truth as yet, or they +would have known that it was the _heat_, and not the _smoke_, which +lifted the paper bag. + +The torch was put to the straw, the yellow flames leapt up, and the +smoke, passing through a hole in the platform, entered the open end of +the globe-shaped bag, which up to the present had, of course, been lying +flat and empty. Instantly a paper dome seemed to rise from the platform. +This continued to grow in size, while the workmen stood round in a ring, +each holding a rope which passed to the top of the dome. The ropes grew +longer and longer as the balloon filled, and it soon became hard work to +hold them. But on no account were the men to let go until the word was +given. + +When at last the paper walls were extended to their uttermost size, the +wondering spectators saw a huge ball of some one hundred and ten feet in +circumference, swaying uneasily to and fro with every breath of air, as +though straining at its fetters. At last came the word. The ropes were +released, and the great body rose rapidly into the air, followed by a +thunder of applause. With straining eyes the crowd followed that +wondrous flight. Higher and higher, nearer and nearer to the clouds, +till what a few moments before was so very imposing in size seemed no +bigger than a child's plaything. Then, caught in a current of air, it +drifted out of sight for ever. + +Such was the launching of the first ship in the new navigation of the +clouds. On the place from which it started a handsome monument has been +erected, bearing the names of the two builders--Joseph and Stephen +Montgolfier--the brothers who always worked together, sharing equally +the fame that their discovery brought, and never selfishly seeking for +self-advancement. Recent searchings seem to show that the principal +honour is due to Joseph, the elder, and, if one of the many stories told +in detail (and repeated at the beginning of this article) may be relied +upon, surely we ought to also remember with some praise the unknown +woman who let lodgings in Avignon. + +JOHN LEA. + + + + +THE WAY TO WIN. + + + 'I wish I could win one!' a lassie was sighing, + When sitting quite still in a meadow one day, + And thinking of prizes not won without trying-- + Not won by mere wishing as time slips away. + + And as she sat wishing she heard a hen clucking; + She lifted her eyes and that hen she could see, + And soon it was rapidly scratching and chucking-- + As gay and as busy and glad as could be. + + She watched how it struggled to upturn a treasure, + A thing it was wishing for, something to eat, + A worm to be dug for with patience and pleasure! + 'Twas found, and it gave Henny-Penny a treat! + + That worm the hen wished for she could not have eaten + Unless she had scratched it right up from the ground; + And Mabel had seen that the hen was not beaten-- + By carefully _working_ the prize had been found. + + So Mabel thought quietly over the matter, + And learnt the good lesson, 'No prize can be won + By thinking and wishing, by waiting and chatter!' + And soon she jumped up and to work she begun. + +D. H. + + + + +FREED IN VAIN. + + +Prince, the parrot, was a proud and happy bird; he was proud of his +gorgeous red and green feathers, of his ability to say 'Pretty Poll' and +'How do?' and, above all, of his fine gilded cage, which stood just +inside the breakfast-room window. + +But, in an evil hour, Prince, watching the birds which flew to and fro +outside the glass, was struck with a desire for freedom. He thought no +more of his splendid feathers, or his handsome cage; but, from morning +till night, he wondered how he should get out. There was not wit enough +in his parrot brain to make him understand that the cold English garden +was not in the least like the flowery forest of his native island. + +His chance came one snowy morning; the French window had been opened, +after breakfast, that some one might go out and scatter crumbs for the +robins. The cage-door happened to be open too. Unobserved, Prince darted +swiftly out, and perched amid the leafless boughs of one of the high +trees on the lawn. + +He was free! but, oh, how cold it was! How wretched he was already +beginning to feel! He crouched shivering on a bough; and when the snow +began to fall again in large, wet flakes, he was more miserable than he +had ever been in all his petted life. + +Paralysed with cold and fear, he clung to the tree, too unhappy even to +cry out and let people know where he was. + +[Illustration: "Paralysed with fear, he clung to the bough."] + +Poor Prince! he must soon have died if some one had not noticed the +empty cage. The alarm was given at once, but it was some time before the +bird was seen on his lofty perch. + +When they did see him, and everybody called and coaxed 'Poor Prince! +dear Prince!' to come down, he was too stupefied with cold and misery to +do as he was told. + +At last Tom, the page-boy, volunteered to climb the tree and try to +reach Prince. It was rather a dangerous task, as the bark was slippery +from the frost and snow; but Tom persevered, and, by dint of much +effort, got hold of the parrot. + +Prince was restored to his cage, but he had caught a bad cold, and never +again held up his head as jauntily, or seemed as proud of himself, as he +had done in former days. + +C. J. BLAKE. + + + + +A KINDLY VISIT. + + +Willie Mortimer was a cripple, but he did not often complain of his lot, +nor, as a rule, did he feel very unhappy about it. His love for drawing +and painting was such a resource to him, that when he could hobble on +his crutches down to the shore, he was never tired of watching the sea +and the boats, and of trying to make sketches which he could work up +into pictures at home, as he sat in the window of the little cottage. + +But it was a year since the accident which had made the amputation of +his leg a necessity, and for the first time Willie's cheerfulness was +beginning to forsake him. He could not help noticing how worn and +anxious his mother looked, and he knew how hard it was for her to earn +enough money, by her plain sewing, to keep up the little house. Until +the previous summer she had let lodgings, but she could not manage it +when she was nursing Willie, and waiting on him after he left the +hospital, and this year no people had applied for her rooms yet. + +One of her former lodgers had been an artist, and it was he who, being +struck with Willie's talent, had given him instruction, and taught him +all he knew about art. But the boy was now thirsting for more knowledge. +If only he could be trained to be an artist! That was his dream, and +often he would sit at his little window, looking over the blue waters +of the bay, while his eyes would fill with tears as he thought how +impossible it was for a little ignorant boy to paint pictures which +would have any beauty. + +His pathetic face attracted Dora and Elsie Vaughan as they passed the +cottage every day. They were having a perfectly lovely time in this +Devonshire village, where their father had taken a house for the summer +holidays. Mr. Vaughan was a celebrated artist, and Willie would watch +him eagerly as he passed with his canvas and sketching materials, and +would long for a sight of the pictures which would soon be so famous. + +'That poor little cripple boy does look sad,' Dora said to her sister. +'I think we ought to go and visit him and take him some flowers.' + +'But he is not always a prisoner,' Elsie answered. 'I see him on the +beach sometimes with his crutches, and he is often trying to sketch +boats and things.' + +[Illustration: "He could hardly find words to welcome them."] + +'Anyway it must be dull for him, and we might cheer him up a little,' +Dora persisted. + +'It is rather tiresome, though, when there are such heaps of lovely +things to do, and the holidays do fly so quickly,' Elsie argued, for she +was not as unselfish as her sister, and did not much care to give up her +own pleasure. + +However, Dora had her way, for Elsie knew from former experience that if +she were really set on a thing, it saved trouble to give in at once and +make the best of it. She even found a box of chocolates not quite +empty, and with the sweets that were left, and some of Dora's, was able +to fill a smaller box. Then they begged some cakes from the cook, and +hunted up a couple of story-books from the number they had brought with +them, and in the end had quite a well-filled basket for Elsie to carry. +Dora picked a bunch of roses and then they set out for the cottage. + +When they arrived Willie was sitting before his easel, looking sadly at +his latest attempt at a picture, and thinking how poor it was compared +with the scene his imagination painted. He was so shy and so much +overcome by the honour of their visit that he could hardly find words to +welcome them, but the girls' exclamations of delight when they saw his +picture soon set him at ease. + +'How lovely!' Dora cried. 'Did you really paint it yourself?' + +'I have watched you sketching on the beach, but I never thought you were +so clever,' Elsie told him, and Willie blushed with pleasure at their +praise. + +Then he opened the box on which his painting materials stood, and showed +them all the pictures and sketches he had done in the past year. + +'You see, Miss,' he said to Dora, 'now I cannot get about much, it +passes the time; but I do wish I had somebody to tell me all the faults +in them, and help me to do better.' + +'We must bring Father to see them; he will not be backward about +pointing out faults,' said Elsie, laughing, 'though I cannot find any +myself.' + +'But Mr. Vaughan is such a great artist, he would never look at my poor +little pictures,' Willie said, flushing at the very thought. + +'He may be a great artist, but he is a very kind father,' Elsie told +him, 'and he nearly always does what we ask him.' + +Certainly he did not disappoint his daughters this time. Moreover, he +was amazed at the progress the boy had made with so little help, and saw +that he was worth training. + +'Your son has great natural talent,' he said to Willie's mother. 'I am +even inclined to think he may be a genius. You must allow me to make it +easy for him to be trained in the best schools.' + +And so poor crippled Willie, instead of being a burden to his mother, +became her pride and joy, beginning a career which was one day to make +him even more famous than the artist who had given him a helping hand. + +M. H. + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +CHAPTER I. + + +The first time I saw Captain Knowlton, we were living in lodgings at +Acacia Road, Saint John's Wood. My Aunt Marion had breakfasted in bed, +and I, having nothing better to do, wandered downstairs to what our +landlady called the 'hall,' where I stood watching Jane as she dipped a +piece of flannel into her pail, and smacked it down noisily on to the +oilcloth, until there was a loud ringing of the street-door bell. + +As Jane rose from her knees, rubbing her red hands on her apron, I edged +along the passage, keeping touch of the wall, and staring unabashed at +the tall, well-dressed, distinguished-looking visitor. + +'Does Miss Everard live here?' he inquired. + +'Yes, sir,' answered Jane. + +'I should like to see her.' + +'Master Jack!' cried Jane, 'do you know if your aunt has come down yet?' + +But as I was on the point of running upstairs to find out, the visitor +called me back. + +'Half a second,' he said. 'Are you young Everard?' + +'Yes,' I replied; and fixing an eyeglass in his left eye, he looked at +me with considerable curiosity. + +'Tell your aunt,' he continued, 'that Captain Knowlton wishes to see +her.' + +And upon that I ran off, shouting, 'Aunt Marion! Aunt Marion!' at the +top of my voice. 'Aunt Marion,' I repeated, entering the sitting-room, +'Captain Knowlton is downstairs, and he wants to speak to you.' + +'Captain Knowlton!' she murmured. + +'Shall I bring him up?' I asked. + +Rising from the sofa, and laying down the newspaper which she had been +reading, Aunt Marion walked towards the door. She must have been near +her thirty-fifth year at that time, about the same age as our visitor. +She was tall, fair, and nice-looking, good-tempered, and perhaps a +little careless. That morning she was wearing a light blue +dressing-gown, although it was past eleven o'clock. + +'Yes, bring Captain Knowlton up,' she answered, 'and ask him to wait a +few minutes.' + +As she went to the bedroom, I returned to the street door, where Captain +Knowlton stood gazing at Jane as she continued to smack the oilcloth +with her wet flannel. + +'You are to come upstairs,' I cried, and following me to the +sitting-room, he sat down and began to stare afresh. + +'So you are poor Frank Everard's boy!' he said. + +'Did you know my father?' I demanded, for I had no recollection of +either parent, or of any relative with the exception of Aunt Marion, +under whose charge I had moved about from lodging-house to lodging-house +since I was four years of age. + +'Well,' said Captain Knowlton, 'if I had not known him, I should not be +here to-day.' + +He became silent for a few moments, and then added, as he took my hand +and drew me against his knee, 'Your father once saved my life, Jack. How +old are you?' he asked. + +'Eleven next month,' I replied, and, somewhat to my disappointment, Aunt +Marion entered the room as I spoke, wearing the dress in which she went +to church on Sundays. + +'I have often heard of you, Captain Knowlton,' she said, as he rose from +his chair, 'although I have never seen you before.' + +'Oh, well,' he answered, 'I have been in India the last five years! I +came home last week, and from a few words I heard at the club, I +gathered that poor Frank Everard's boy----' + +Aunt Marion's cheeks flushed, and she held her head a little further +back. + +'I have done the best I could for him,' she exclaimed. + +'I am certain of that,' he continued; 'but, anyhow, I made inquiries, +and, after some difficulty, succeeded in discovering your address. +Perhaps,' he added, glancing in my direction, 'you would not mind +sparing me a few minutes alone.' + +To my great disgust, she told me to run away, so that I returned to the +damp passage, which was now deserted by Jane. After waiting there what +seemed a long time, I saw Captain Knowlton on the stairs. After bidding +me good-bye, he let himself out of the house. + +'Aunt Marion!' I cried, before there was time to reach the sitting-room, +'he says that Father saved his life!' + +'Well, Jack, he said what was quite true.' + +'But,' I continued, 'why did Captain Knowlton call father "poor Frank +Everard?" Was he really poor?' + +Aunt Marion sighed before she answered. + +'Goodness knows, he ought not to have been,' she said. 'Your father had +a lot of money when he came of age, but he was foolish enough to spend +it all, and the consequence was that nothing remained for your mother, +or for you when she died.' + +'Hasn't Captain Knowlton any money either?' I asked. + +'He has lately come into a large fortune,' she said; and then she told +me that he had promised to come again at the same hour to-morrow +morning, and take me out with him. + +Captain Knowlton seemed so satisfactory in every way that the mere +prospect of walking in the street by his side was enticing. I lay awake +that night a long time, wondering where he would take me. + +When I awoke the next morning, Aunt Marion said I was to put on my best +clothes (which were nothing to boast of), and insisted on washing me +herself, putting a quantity of soap into my eyes, oiling my hair, and, +in short, doing her best in readiness for Captain Knowlton's arrival. + +'Well, Jack, are you ready?' he asked, as he entered our room. + +'Rather!' I answered. + +'Have you got a handkerchief?' said Aunt Marion, and I drew it from my +jacket as proof. + +'Come along, then,' cried Captain Knowlton, and I rejoiced to see that +he had kept his hansom at the door. + +The first stoppage on that eventful morning was at the hair-dresser's, +where I sat in a high chair, enveloped in a loose cotton wrapper, while +Captain Knowlton smoked a cigarette and a man cut my hair, after which +we went to a tailor's, where I was measured for two suits of clothes. +Having visited a hatter's and a hosier's in turn, we entered a large +restaurant, sitting down one on each side of a small table, Captain +Knowlton leaning across it and reading the bill of fare aloud for my +benefit. + +'I think I will have roast turkey,' I said, after prolonged consideration, +and I accordingly had it, with the accompaniment of sausage and bread +sauce, to say nothing of the sweets and the ice which followed. But +even what Captain Knowlton described as luncheon, and what I regarded as +a kind of king of dinners, was eclipsed by what came afterwards, for we +were driven to a theatre, where a comic opera was being played; and at +seven o'clock that evening a very tired and sleepy boy, with his right +hand tightly clenched on a half-sovereign in his jacket pocket, was +deposited on the steps of the house in Acacia Road. + +During the next few weeks Captain Knowlton was a frequent visitor, +while, for my own part, I wished that he would come every day. One +afternoon he arrived in the rain and stayed to tea. + +'Now, Jack,' he said, setting down his empty cup, 'I should like to hear +you read.' + +But as I was bringing one of our small collection of books from the +sideboard, he called me away. + +'No, none of that,' he cried, with a laugh; 'something you have never +seen before. Try the newspaper.' + +Although I appeared to win approval by my reading of the extremely +uninteresting leading article, he shook his head at the sight of my +handwriting, whilst he seemed to be astounded by my total ignorance of +Latin and French. + +'The fact is,' he said, 'it is high time you went to boarding-school!' + +Before he left the house that afternoon he had another private +conversation with Aunt Marion, and a week or two later he arrived with +the announcement that 'everything had been arranged.' + +'Windlesham has been very strongly recommended to me,' he explained. +'The Reverend Matthew Windlesham, to give him his full title.' + +'Has he a living?' inquired Aunt Marion. + +'No, but he has a capital house, with a large garden and a meadow, at a +place called Castlemore.' + +'Where is that?' + +'About a hundred miles from London. Windlesham has a wife and five +daughters, and at present there are only six or seven pupils. As Jack is +rather backward, it will suit him better than a larger school.' + +So everything was decided, and I fancy that Aunt Marion looked forward +to my departure with a satisfaction equal to my own--it could scarcely +have been greater. Boys and girls were at that time an unknown quantity +to us, as were most of their sports and pastimes. + +It was true that there were scarcely enough of us at Ascot House for +football or cricket; nevertheless we did our best in the meadow at the +bottom of the garden, our scanty numbers being eked out by Mr. and Mrs. +Windlesham's five girls. They were nice, kind people, and, when the +first shyness had worn off, I settled down happily at Castlemore. During +the next three uneventful years I received occasional visits from +Captain Knowlton, while I grew greatly in stature, and, it is to be +hoped, in knowledge. + +The holidays were, for the most part, spent with Aunt Marion, sometimes +in boarding-houses at the seaside, sometimes in London, and I had no +anticipation of troubles ahead until shortly after I passed my +fourteenth birthday. + +(_Continued on page 12._) + +[Illustration: "'Does Miss Everard live here?' he inquired."] + +[Illustration: "His grandfather lay gagged and bound on the floor."] + + + + +THE CASTLE LIGHT. + + +'I wish you would tell me, Grandfather, how it was you first thought of +building a lighthouse tower.' + +'Well, Conrad, if you _will_ know, you shall hear the story,' and Sir +Matthew Cairns, as he said these words, looked kindly down into the +bright young face uplifted to his own. + +'It was twenty years ago that the thought first came to me that Cairns +Castle might serve as a beacon to those far out at sea. The reason for +this was that on a certain winter's night a vessel was wrecked on these +shores, solely on account of there being no light to warn her of her +peril. More than a hundred souls went to their doom, to the joy, it is +said, of the wreckers, who made a fine harvest on the coast at +daybreak.' + +'Oh, Grandfather,' Conrad said with a shudder, 'how awful! Surely we +have no such people about now?' + +His grandfather sighed, and, to turn the subject, proceeded to explain +to the little lad his method of lighting the lamp. + +Cairns Castle was an ancient building which overlooked the sea, its +isolated position rendering it a very lonely dwelling-place. Sir +Matthew, its present possessor, though by no means a wealthy man, had +spent a considerable sum of money in adding a lighthouse tower to the +castle. From the window-panes shone forth a gleam so clear and +brilliant, that many a gallant seaman was guided safely home thereby. + +'Let me light the lamp to-night, Grandfather,' said Conrad, after +listening intently to all Sir Matthew's instructions. 'Perhaps it will +guide Father and Mother on their way home from India.' + +'Aye, laddie, perhaps it will; the good ship _Benares_ should be nearing +our coast by this time,' was the reply. + +'Then may I, Grandfather?' said Conrad. + +'Yes, my boy, and I will look on to see that you do it properly.' + +Ah! little did Sir Matthew think, as he said these words, of the +incidents which would take place, ere the castle light should next fling +its friendly rays across the sea. + + * * * * * + +The November afternoon was creeping on apace, and Sir Matthew, absorbed +in thought, drew long whiffs from his pipe, as he sat over the +dining-room fire. The wind was wild and stormy, and dashed against the +window-pane with angry force. + +Conrad, who was busy preparing his lessons for his tutor next morning, +looked up anxiously. But the words he was about to say were checked by +the entrance of a rough-looking man of the fisher type. + +It was William Forrest, or Black Bill as he was called by his +neighbours, partly on account of his swarthy appearance, and partly +because of his evil deeds. + +The baronet rose in surprise, wondering at his entering the room +unannounced. + +'Good evening, Forrest,' he said. + +'Evening, master,' was the sullen reply; 'I have come on business, and I +want to see you alone.' + +Sir Matthew bade Conrad take his lessons into the library, whilst he +spoke to his visitor. The boy obeyed, unwillingly enough, for +instinctively he felt that Black Bill meant no good to his dearly loved +grandfather. + +Somehow he could not give his mind to his lessons, and at length, +thinking the interview must be ended, he returned to the dining-room. +The sight which there met his eyes made his heart stand still with +terror and alarm. His grandfather lay gagged and bound upon the floor. + +It was the work of a few moments to remove the gag, and when Sir Matthew +could find voice, he told the story of his attack. + +Black Bill, who was in reality a wrecker, for some evil reason of his +own, had endeavoured to extract from the baronet a promise not to light +the lamp that night. Upon Sir Matthew's indignant refusal, he, with the +aid of two colleagues who were waiting near, had next proceeded to +render him helpless. They had already gagged and bound the three old +servants of the castle. So massive were the walls and lengthy the +passages that not a sound had reached Conrad's ears; and the men had +apparently forgotten his presence in the castle. + +The boy, in terrible distress of mind, tried to unloose the cords which +bound his grandfather hand and foot. + +'Never mind the cords, Conrad,' said the old man at last, 'they are more +than you can manage. Go and light the lamp, for it is already past the +hour, and may Heaven protect you.' + +Conrad, sick at heart, turned to obey. + +'I will do it, Grandfather,' he replied, looking fearfully around lest +Black Bill and his colleagues should be listening. 'Then I will come +back and help you,' he added bravely. + +With light, fleet footsteps, the little ten-year-old laddie made his way +along the passage, towards the staircase. Presently sounds fell on his +ears which sent all the colour from his face. Black Bill and his +comrades were talking together in a room close by, the door of which was +open; and to reach the lighthouse staircase he must pass that very room. +For a few minutes he crouched in shadow, too panic-stricken to move. He +thought of his promise to his grandfather and of the homeward-bound +_Benares_ battling with wind and wave; then like an inspiration came the +thought of Him Who stilled the waters of Galilee, and Who at this moment +was watching over him. + +The lad hesitated no more. On he sped past the open door, towards his +goal. But, alas! Black Bill had noted his light footsteps. + +'Stop, boy!' he shouted, 'or it will be the worse for you.' + +But never once paused Conrad. + +Then the men gave chase, and despair filled the brave young heart. + +Mercifully in the darkness the men took a wrong turn, and the boy +mounted quickly up, up, up, until he was safe in the shelter of the +lighthouse tower. + +It took him but a few seconds to turn the key in the lock, and to slip +the heavy bolts. Then he was safe from his pursuers. + +Meanwhile the good ship _Benares_ was tossing on the angry sea, out of +its course and in sore peril, with no castle light to guide it home. + +Then, almost at the moment of its extremity, shot forth a brilliant +gleam, and the gallant vessel was saved--saved by a little lad's courage +and daring. + +Black Bill, after hammering vainly at the door, at length turned away, +muttering threats of vengeance. + +An hour crept by on leaden wings, and at last, to Conrad's joy, he heard +his grandfather's voice calling him by name. In a very short space of +time they were face to face, and Conrad heard how that one man, more +tender-hearted than the rest, had secretly returned to the castle (after +Black Bill's departure) and freed Sir Matthew from his bonds. + + * * * * * + +Cairns Castle is now falling into decay, and its light no longer exists. +But on the coast near by stands a magnificent lighthouse, which sends +forth its life-saving gleam across the sea. Conrad has left boyhood far +behind him, and has now little lads and lasses of his own. Many are the +stories which their parents have to tell of the once stately home of the +Cairns family, but the story the children like best to hear is how +Father lit the Castle Light. + +M. I. HURRELL. + + + + +THE INDIAN CHIEF AND THE BISHOP. + + +Bishop Whipple, who did so much work among the Indians of North America, +tells how a great Indian chief became a Christian. 'One day,' he writes, +'the chief came to see me, and said that he wished to be a Christian; +that he knew he must die some day, but he had been told of the new life +into which Christians entered after death, and that he also would like +to enter that life.' + +'Shall I cut your hair?' asked the Bishop. + +This strange question was understood perfectly well by the chief. It +meant that he must cut off the bad old habit of going on the war-path. + +'No, I cannot allow you to cut my hair,' he answered, reluctantly, for +he was not ready to give up going on the war-path. + +'Well, you cannot become a Christian unless you cut your hair,' said the +Bishop, sorrowfully. + +The chief went away, but he still attended the services which the Bishop +held, and after some months came again to the Bishop. + +'I want to be sure of that life after death,' he said. 'Please make me a +Christian.' + +'Shall I cut your hair?' asked the Bishop again. + +'Yes; do whatever you like with me so long as you make me a Christian,' +answered the chief. + +Thus the chief eventually became a Christian, and many of his tribe +followed his example. + + + + +THE NAUGHTY KITTENS. + + + 'Look at old Puss,' the Kittens said, + 'He's fast asleep, he nods his head; + How dull and stupid it must be + To be as slow and old as he! + He lies and sleeps there in the sun, + And does not try to play or run; + Creep up and gives him just a pat-- + He ought to run, he gets so fat!' + + But Puss awoke. 'Hullo,' said he, + 'You think to play your tricks on me? + I know I'm old, I'm glad I'm fat-- + My dear, kind mistress sees to that; + I scare the birds while lying here-- + They dare not come when I am near, + To steal my mistress's nice fruit; + My time to some good use is put. + + 'But you! what have you done to-day, + Except to romp and run and play?' + The Kittens, looking quite subdued, + Said, 'We are sorry we were rude.' + 'Well then, this time I let you go,' + Old Puss replied, 'for now you know + That older folk are wiser far + Than silly little kittens are.' + + With this remark Puss walked away + And left the Kittens to their play. + I'm glad to say they ne'er forgot + The lesson that they had been taught, + And from that day tried hard to be + From naughty, idle ways quite free; + In fact they now behave so well + That I have nothing more to tell. + +C. D. B. + + + + +THE BEST LESSON. + + +A good man once had a serious illness, during which his life was several +times despaired of. On his becoming convalescent, a friend said to him, +'It will be a long time before you are able to collect your thoughts to +preach again, or to think of material for your sermons.' + +'You are mistaken, friend,' was the answer. 'This illness has taught me +more than all the books and learning I have studied in the whole of my +life before.' + +He had been not far from death, and had learnt more fully than any books +could teach him, that there is something greater than mere human wisdom. + + + + +A MONKEY'S MEMORY. + + +A French lady on one occasion saw an organ-grinder ill-treating his +monkey. She was moved with pity, and bought it. It became her chief pet, +and used to follow her about everywhere. Once she invited a party of +guests to a concert. The monkey was allowed to watch; but instead of +staying where she had put it, it took the hat of one of the guests, and +made a collection, much to the delight of the audience, and then emptied +the contents into the player's lap. It had not forgotten its old +habits. + +[Illustration: A Monkey's Memory.] + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 7._) + +CHAPTER II. + + +'Jack,' said Captain Knowlton, who had come to see me at Castlemore for +a few hours, 'I have brought some news. Your aunt is going to be +married.' + +'Aunt Marion?' I cried. + +'You haven't another aunt, have you?' he asked. + +'No, of course not,' I answered; 'but I thought she was too old.' + +'Anyhow,' he said, 'she is going to marry Major Ruston, and in about a +month I shall come to fetch you to the wedding.' + +'But,' I asked, 'what shall I do in the holidays?' + +'We must manage as best we can,' he answered. 'You understand that I +have taken you entirely off her hands. In the future you must look to +me. Will you object to that?' + +'I shall like it immensely,' I said; and the following morning Mrs. +Windlesham helped me to compose a suitable letter of congratulation to +Aunt Marion. + +In due course Captain Knowlton came, according to his promise, to take +me to the wedding, and we were driven direct from the London terminus to +his own rooms in the Albany, where I made the acquaintance of Rogers, +his servant, a pleasant-looking man, about twenty-seven years of age, +who seemed always to wear a blue serge suit. Rogers took me to the +Hippodrome that evening, and the next afternoon to a house at South +Kensington, where I found Aunt Marion looking younger and more smartly +dressed than I had ever seen her before. + +'Did Captain Knowlton tell you the news?' she asked, when I had sat by +her side for a few moments. + +'I _was_ surprised!' I exclaimed. + +'I am sure I don't know why,' she answered, with a peculiar kind of +laugh. + +'Is Major Ruston here?' I asked. + +'No,' she said; 'you won't see him until Captain Knowlton brings you to +the church to-morrow. It is to be a very quiet wedding, and we shall +start for India the next day.' + +When Rogers returned to fetch me an hour later, Aunt Marion put her arms +around my neck and kissed me a great many times, telling me to be good, +and try in every way to please Captain Knowlton--advice which I +considered very unnecessary. + +After the wedding ceremony the following day, we went to an hotel, where +the four of us had luncheon, and, later on, Captain Knowlton stood on +the pavement without his hat, and took a white satin slipper from his +pocket, throwing it after the carriage as Major and Mrs. Ruston were +driven away. + +[Illustration: "I shook hands with the three in turn."] + +'I don't think much of Major Ruston,' I remarked as I walked to the +Albany with Captain Knowlton. + +'What is the matter with him?' + +'He is too fat, and his face is too red,' I answered, whereupon he +laughed. + +After Rogers had cleared the table that evening, and brought two cups of +coffee, and Captain Knowlton had lighted a cigar, 'Jack,' he said, 'how +old are you by this time?' + +'Turned fourteen,' I replied. + +'Ah, a grand age, isn't it?' he exclaimed. 'I was talking about you to +Windlesham. He gave you a pretty good character on the whole.' + +'I am glad of that,' I said, for although I had never thought much about +my character hitherto, it seemed desirable to possess a good one, if +only to please Captain Knowlton. + +'A bit mischievous,' he continued, 'and rather headstrong. Inclined to +act too much on the impulse of the moment. It is time you set to work in +earnest, you know, Jack. You will have to look sharp if you wish to go +to Sandhurst.' + +'That is just what I should like!' I cried, with a great deal of +excitement. + +'That is all right then. You are quite old enough to understand things. +I feel certain your father would have liked you to enter the army. Now,' +he added, 'I am afraid you will have to spend the next holidays at +Castlemore. I have one or two engagements which cannot very well be put +off, and unfortunately there is nobody in the world who can be said to +belong to you.' + +I looked up abruptly. + +'Well?' he asked. + +'Oh--nothing!' I muttered. + +'Come, out with it, Jack!' + +'There is you,' I said; and he leaned forward, resting a hand on my +knee. + +'Quite right,' he answered. 'I want you to feel you have me. Understand, +Jack?' + +'Yes,' I cried, and suddenly I seemed to realise what a bad thing it +would be if I had not Captain Knowlton to depend upon. + +The next day I returned to Ascot House, naturally disappointed at the +prospect of spending the holiday at school. The other fellows all went +home at the end of March, and about a week later I was surprised when +Elsie Windlesham, the eldest of the five girls, told me that Captain +Knowlton was waiting in the drawing-room. But my satisfaction faded when +he explained that he was going abroad for some months, and that he had +come to say good-bye. 'The fact is I have not been up to the mark,' he +continued, 'so I have bought a small steam yacht.' + +'What is her name?' I interrupted. + +'The _Seagull_--a jolly little craft, and I hope to make a voyage round +the world in her. I shall get back again before the summer holidays, and +then we will have a good time together. I have had a chat with Mr. +Windlesham,' said Captain Knowlton, 'and told him to keep you well +supplied with pocket-money and so forth. You will be a good chap,' he +added, 'and work hard for Sandhurst.' + +As he would probably be absent on my fifteenth birthday, he had brought +a silver watch and chain, which certainly went some way towards +consoling me for his departure. So I said good-bye to Captain Knowlton, +little dreaming of what was destined to occur to both of us in the near +future. + +For now events began to happen quickly one on the top of another, and it +was less than a fortnight after Captain Knowlton's departure that Elsie +told me, as a great secret, that her father had been offered a lucrative +living in the north of England. + +'But,' I asked, 'how about the school?' + +'That is why he has gone to London to-day,' she explained. 'He wants to +sell the school before next term begins, and he has heard of somebody +who will very likely buy it.' + +A few days later, Mr. Turton appeared on the scene, accompanied by his +wife and his only son, Augustus. Mr. Turton was not a clergyman, +although he dressed a little like one; he was short, rather stout, with +a pale face and an untidy dark beard. But his wife was tall and lean, +and her face looked gaunt and pinched, while, as for Augustus, it was +difficult to judge whether he ought to be described as a boy or a man. +Taller than Mr. Turton, he had a long, thin face like his mother's, and +a growth of fair down upon his chin. With a boy's jacket he wore a very +high stand-up collar, while his hair sadly needed cutting. + +I shook hands with the three in turn, and as I tried to think of +something to say to the painfully bashful Augustus, I overheard a remark +of Mr. Windlesham's which led me to believe I was being spoken of as an +important source of revenue. + +The result of Mr. Turton's visit was that the holidays were lengthened +for eight days, to allow the Windleshams to move away and their +successors to take possession of Ascot House. I learnt from Elsie that +the furniture had been bought as it stood, and that Mr. Bosanquet--the +assistant master, and a thoroughly good fellow--was to stay on for one +term, after which Augustus would take his place. + +'I have felt a little at a loss,' said Mr. Windlesham, the day before +his departure. 'All the other boys are returning, but in your case I +have been compelled to take Captain Knowlton's approval for granted. +However, I have explained all the circumstances to Mr. Turton, and I +have no doubt you will be very happy and comfortable.' + +Still, I had certain doubts, and, in fact, after I had reluctantly said +good-bye to Mr. and Mrs. Windlesham, and to Elsie and her sisters, and +the fellows came back from the holidays, a change was at once +perceptible. Perhaps, in some ways, an impartial observer might have +regarded it as a change for the better. Everything was conducted in a +far more orderly manner. We rose an hour earlier in the morning, and +went to bed half an hour earlier at night. We had the same kind of meat +every week-day in regular rotation, and less of it; our bread was cut +thicker, and spread with less butter; we were no longer permitted to +wander about the small town at our own sweet wills. + +It became necessary to ask leave before we spent any money, and although +Augustus shared for the present our lessons with Mr. Bosanquet, he acted +as a kind of tyrannical overseer during the rest of the day. + +One morning in June, about two months after Captain Knowlton's departure +from England, I was summoned to Mr. Turton's study, and I found him with +a more than usually grave face. + +'Everard,' he said, 'you must be prepared for the most serious news.' + +'Not about Captain Knowlton?' I cried, for it seemed that there was +really no one else in the world for whom I very much cared. + +'What was the name of his vessel?' asked Mr. Turton. + +'The _Seagull_. You don't mean that she has been wrecked?' I faltered. + +'Unfortunately, that is the fact,' was the answer. + +Turning aside, I leaned against the door with my face buried in my +sleeve. + +Mr. Turton spoke kindly, as did Mrs. Turton in her rather cold, +unsympathetic way; but nothing that any one could say made the slightest +difference. I felt that I had lost my best and, indeed, my only friend. + +(_Continued on page 22._) + + + + +A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. + +True Tales of the Year 1805. + +I.--IN THE PILLORY. + + +One summer's day in the year 1805, a farmer's wife, carrying a heavy +basket of eggs, was slowly trudging along a lane leading to the market +town, when a woman ran hastily to her, calling out as she passed, 'You +are in luck to-day, Mrs. Hodge! Eggs are so scarce that you can ask any +price you like.' + +'Why is that?' asked Mrs. Hodge, surprised. + +'Why?' laughed the woman. 'Because every one wants them! A man has just +been put in the pillory for speaking against the King, or the +Parliament, I don't rightly know which; but at any rate he is safe in +the pillory, and folk are having rare fun pelting him,' and the woman +passed on to join in what she called 'the fun!' + +Mrs. Hodge, however, was a woman of a different sort. 'I will sell none +of my eggs for such cruel work as that,' she said resolutely. 'Sooner, +by far, would I take the whole lot back unsold, that I would, than +ill-treat an unfortunate man in that way.' + +She had now reached the market-place, and there, on a platform raised +several feet above the ground, stood a wide wooden post, with three +round holes in it, through which appeared a man's head and his two +hands. Thus imprisoned and utterly unable to protect himself in any way, +he furnished sport for a thoughtless, cruel mob, who were aiming at him +with rotten eggs, cabbage-stalks, and any rubbish that came to hand. + +Mrs. Hodge's blood boiled with indignation as she saw the terror and +agony in the poor man's eyes, as missile after missile hit him, each hit +being greeted with a shout of delight from the populace. + +'Shame on you!' cried the honest woman, and hastily leaving her basket +at a shop-door, she somehow pushed her way through the masses, and +climbing the platform, stood right in front of the pillory. 'Shame on +you all, to hit a helpless man!' she cried again. + +'Get down! get down!' shouted the mob, furious at any one interfering +with their fun. 'Get down, or we will treat you the same!' + +'More shame to you,' said the dauntless woman. 'I shall not leave for +all your threats! Surely there will be one amongst you all who will not +see a helpless man tortured.' + +'But he is a bad man. He was trying to set folk against the Government. +He deserves to be punished!' was shouted by different voices in the +crowd. + +'If he has done wrong he is being punished for it,' said the woman +firmly, still continuing to shelter the man by standing before him. 'It +is bad enough for him to stand all day in the pillory under this +broiling sun, without having his eyes blinded and his nose broken. We +shall all, maybe, want a friend one day, so let us help this poor fellow +now. Here, Ralph,' she continued, catching the eye of the chief leader +of the rioting, 'you said, when I saved you from bleeding to death in +the hay-field last summer, that you owed me a good turn. Pay it me now! +Leave this poor fellow alone, and get your friends to do the same.' + +The man stood irresolute one minute; then his feeling of gratitude +conquered him, and he said, half-sheepishly, 'Have your own way, Mother! +I will see that no one throws any more at him.' + +'That is right, Ralph,' said Mrs. Hodge, heartily, for she knew that +Ralph's influence was great. 'Now for a pail of fresh water, and let me +see if I cannot get all this dirt off this poor fellow's face and hair.' + +'Thank you, Missis, you have been real good to me,' the man said, +hoarsely. 'I could never have stood it much longer.' + +The mob--fickle as mobs so often are--were now as ready to help as +before to injure, and instead of jeering and reviling, there were now +those who remarked that 'perhaps the chap was no worse than the rest of +us,' whilst others were glad they had been stopped in time, for only a +few weeks before a man had been killed, whilst standing in the pillory, +by those who were only 'amusing' themselves in much the same fashion as +folk on that day. + +One of the crowd fetched water, and a woman brought a mug of milk, which +was sweet as nectar to the poor man's parched throat, and now, though he +had still many hours before sundown to stand in the pillory, yet it was +shorn of its chief terror, as Ralph undertook to shield him from all +further injury. + +So he once more thanked Mrs. Hodge, and she returned to her eggs with a +mind at ease. + + * * * * * + +It may surprise our readers to know that the punishment of the pillory +remained on the Statute-book of this country until the year 1837, though +it had practically fallen into disuse for many years before it was +repealed. + +The pillory came down to us from Anglo-Saxon times, and there was a law +passed in the reign of Henry III., ordering every village to set up a +pillory when required for bakers who used false weights, perjurers, and +so on. + +CLARENDON. + +[Illustration: "'Shame on you all, to hit a helpless man!'"] + +[Illustration: A Countryman's Well-deserved Rebuke.] + + + + +NOTHING IS PERFECT. + + +An Italian artist had painted a little girl holding a basket of +strawberries. One of his friends, who was at the time a great admirer of +his genius, wishing to show the perfection of the picture, said to some +people who were looking at it, 'These strawberries are so very natural +and perfect, that I have seen birds coming down from the trees to peck +them, mistaking them for real strawberries.' + +A countryman, on hearing this ridiculous praise, burst out laughing: +'Well, sir,' he cried, 'if the strawberries are so well represented as +you say they are, it must not be the same with the little girl, since +she does not frighten the birds.' + +The painter's friend could answer nothing; he had received a +well-deserved rebuke for his flattery. + +MORAL.--Excessive praise wrongs rather than benefits the person upon +whom it is bestowed. + +W. YARWOOD. + + + + +WONDERFUL CAVERNS. + +I.--ON CAVERNS IN GENERAL. + + +Long ago, in the dark ages of the world, when superstitious terrors +ruled the mind of savage man, caverns were looked upon with awe and +peopled with supernatural beings. The mysterious waters that issued from +some, the depth and length of the winding ways of others, the +unaccountable sounds that echoed through the vaults and galleries of +all, gave rise to wonderful legends in many parts of the world. + +Beneath the Holy Peak of Kailas, supposed to be the centre of the Hindoo +Universe, are caverns in which, according to legend, live the four +sacred animals, the elephant, the lion, the cow, and the horse, from +whose mouths issue the four great rivers of India, the Ganges, Sutlej, +Indus, and Brahmapootra. + +According to Scandinavian mythology, Loke, the incarnation of evil, was +for a long time bound to points of rock in a cavern, with a huge serpent +crouching above and spitting venom on the prisoner. + +Hastrand, the nether world of the Vikings, was also depicted as a cavern +of colossal size, furnished with poisonous serpents and unlimited +sources of torture for mind and body. + +The Greeks held caverns to be sacred to various gods--Pan, Bacchus, +Pluto, and the Moon. The Romans peopled them with Sibyls, or priestesses +of Fate, and beautiful nymphs; whilst in ancient Germany and Gaul, +fairies, dragons, and evil spirits shared the gloomy recesses which no +mortal might invade and live. + +In the Middle Ages there were many legends of evil spirits dwelling in +caves, who beguiled human beings to their rocky homes, whence the +visitors never returned. Probably the truth of this particular fable +lay in the growing spirit of exploration into the recesses of Nature, +the dangers of which--ill provided with light, ropes, and modern means +of security as they were--must have been extreme. + +About this era, too, the forests of Northern Europe were largely +thinned, and fairies, dwarfs, and such folk, it was thought, were +obliged to take refuge in caverns and grottoes. Within the last hundred +years a legend was common in the Hartz Mountains, that if a wedding +feast lacked copper or brass kettles, cooking-pans, or plates, the needs +would be supplied on invoking the dwarfs at the entry of their rocky +homes. No payment was asked for or expected, but a little meat left in +the pans on their return was appreciated and might lead to future +civilities. + +Moorish children are still brought up to believe that Boabdil, the last +King of Granada, with his mighty host, is still sleeping in a huge +cavern, whence he will some day issue to a last great victory over the +Christians. + +So far we have seen only the imaginative ideas of these great hollows of +the earth, for 'hollow' is the true meaning of the Latin word _cavea_, +from which cave or cavern is derived: now we will glance at the more +practical purposes to which the smaller and more superficial caves have +been adapted. + +With the dawn of Christianity, many men and women, shocked at the +excesses of Greek and Roman civilisation, retired from the world and led +simple lives as hermits in remote caves. To this day, 'The Hermit's +Cave' is a common name in England, and, though it is not always a +genuine one, it usually denotes that in olden times some hermit or +'anchorite' passed his lonely existence in the spot in question. + +Long before this era, in Hindoostan, advantage had been taken of natural +caverns to hew into shape the marvellous rock temples of Elephanta, +Ellora, and Ajunta, still accounted as amongst the wonders of the world. + +In New Mexico and Arizona in remote ages whole tribes lived in caves, +some natural, but more often made habitable by the aid of masonry. Most +of these are high up on shelves edging precipitous cliffs, and were +clearly chosen as places of refuge from enemies of the plain. + +All over Europe caves are found containing bones of human beings, most +of which are recognised by scientists to belong to an earlier race, who +made use of these homes provided by Nature, both for abiding-places +during life and resting-places for the dead. In many of these caves, +sketches on bone, horn, and ivory have been found, remarkable for their +clear and vigorous drawing at a time when art was an unknown quantity. +It is noticeable that drawings found amongst the Esquimaux relics depict +seals, whales, and walruses, whilst those of more southern races show +mammoths, wild horses, and bisons; the only animals drawn by both being +the reindeer. + +Numerous caves in Britain, and indeed all over the world, contain bones +of animals, and from classifying these, learned folk have found out a +great deal respecting the geological and geographical changes which have +taken place on the crust of the earth since the Creation. + +Now that we have thought of the terrors with which caverns inspired our +remote forefathers, as well as of the practical uses to which they have +been put by less imaginative men and animals, let us try to see how and +why these mighty hollows came to exist at all. + +Earthquakes are often accountable for rocks heaped in wild confusion, +leaving great chasms below. Volcanic agency also deposits huge roofs of +lava over tracts of ice and snow, and the melting of the latter leaves +empty spaces of vast extent. The neighbourhood of Mount Etna, in Sicily, +has various wonderful caverns of this formation. Landslips and +rock-falls on the surface account for many small grottoes, but water is +the main origin of all the most celebrated caverns of the world. +Underground streams and rivers gradually eat their way along the surface +of their rocky flooring, the carbonic acid in the water acting +chemically on the stone in addition to the wearing force of the element. +Once a shallow channel is worn, new forces set to work to deepen it: +sand, pebbles and grit of all kinds, washed down by the current, grind +and wear away the rock. In course of time great depths are hollowed out, +and if it happens that some obstacle turns the course of the water, and +the river finds a new outlet, a long deep gallery is left dry, and here +and there an apparently bottomless pit where the water has acted on +specially soft stone. From above, also, a steady action of moisture has +been eating away the cliff, adding height to the cavern, as well as +coating its roof and sides with a sparkling substance derived from the +union of water and particles of the limestone, in which caves usually +abound. + +Nothing can be more beautiful, when illuminated, than a roof of +stalactites, with ascending pillars of stalagmite often meeting and +forming pillars, like those which will be later on described in the +Mammoth Cave and others. The building of these fairy grottoes is really +a simple matter, but one only possible to the Great Architect to whom a +thousand years are as one day; for a very little bit of one of those +stony icicles would take hundreds of years in formation. Water flowing +above a cave is certain to contain carbonic acid, some given to it by +the atmosphere, and some imparted from decaying vegetation. This water +oozes slowly through the rock, and the carbonic acid in passing +dissolves a mite of lime, carrying it through the roof, to which the +lime adheres whilst the water evaporates. Drop follows drop, each tiny +particle sliding down its fellow, until, as weeks and years and +centuries roll by, a lovely long pendant is formed, known as a +stalactite. Sometimes the drops of acidulated watery lime fall through +the roof by an easier passage, and fall right on to the floor of the +cavern, when an upward process takes place, each drop exactly striking +the one before, until one of the stately columns arises known as a +stalagmite. + +HELENA HEATH. + + + + +AN OCEAN POLICEMAN. + + +Amid a flutter of flags and the cheers of onlookers, the 'ocean +policeman,' H.M.S. _Speedy_, first took to the water on May 18th, 1893. +Its birthplace was the banks of the Thames at Chiswick, but hardly had +it settled itself on the smooth surface of the river when orders came +from official quarters that it should proceed at once to school. They +were no easy lessons that it had to learn, and the subsequent +examinations were extremely difficult and trying, for they were +conducted by a large crowd of the most learned gentlemen in England and +the Continent connected with naval matters. The school was at Sheerness, +and here the _Speedy_ spent four months in preparation. On September +28th the first run was made, and three weeks later the examiners were +delighted to find that this splendid new boat was able to steam at a +speed of twenty knots an hour. Everything the inventor and designer had +claimed for her was proving true. The new style of tubing in the boilers +made it possible to get up steam very quickly after the fires were +lighted, so that when the order came to start there was no 'Oh, wait a +minute, please; I am not quite ready!' + +The engines, four thousand five hundred horse-power in strength, did +their work far more nimbly than those in any previous gunboat of the +same size. The vessel is two hundred and thirty feet long, and can steam +triumphantly through water no more than ten feet deep. That in itself is +enough to terrify evil-doers who would otherwise hope to escape by +getting into shallow water beyond her reach. But in addition, she +carries two large guns and a search-light. + +Having thoroughly satisfied the examiners, this huge scholar soon had +the honour of receiving a commission, and is now on duty in the North +Sea among the brown-sailed fishing-smacks, like a gigantic duck watching +over her ducklings. There are several gunboats of the British navy +employed in the same way, but few of them quite so modern as the +_Speedy_, or so capable of guarding the interests of the fishermen. Any +foreign smack or lugger that comes within three miles of the English +coast is 'trespassing,' and is immediately called upon by the _Speedy_ +to give an explanation. If the trespasser hesitates, a boat is lowered +from the steamer with an officer on board to make inquiries, and should +the answers to his questions be unsatisfactory, the stranger and his +boat are sent prisoners to the nearest English port. + +Thus, up and down among the great fleet of peaceful fishers, the +_Speedy_ plies all day, and even in the darkest night her watching is as +keen and sure, for then her search-light, a dazzling beam, sweeps over +the sea in all directions, and not the tiniest rowboat could escape +unseen. Many a time it has revealed some stealthy marauder who hoped, +under the cover of darkness, to pull in a net of fish from these +forbidden waters and then sail into some French or Dutch port +undetected. All chance of escape, however, is over when once that +dazzling light falls upon the dishonest craft. + +[Illustration: An Ocean Policeman by Day.] + +[Illustration: An Ocean Policeman by Night.] + +And who would begrudge such protection to our fishermen? Their busy +fleets are floating towns of industry, in which some thirty-three +thousand men and boys are employed. In 1901 their harvest represented +eight million six hundred and forty-seven thousand eight hundred and +five hundred-weight of fish, and realised six million eight hundred and +forty-eight thousand one hundred and ninety-two pounds in money. A +very large portion of this came from the North Sea. + +But such treasure is only secured at great danger and with loss of life. +In this same year 1901, over three hundred fishermen were drowned, some +in wrecks and collisions, some in missing barks, and many by being +dragged overboard by the cumbersome fishing gear. At all hours of the +day and night, at all seasons of the year, these perilous labours are +carried on, and when we think of this, is it not some gratification to +know that the rights and privileges of our fishermen are jealously +guarded by such stalwart ocean policemen as the _Speedy_? + +JOHN LEA. + +[Illustration: "I cannot bear to sit out here."] + + + + +WAITING. + + + In London town the streets are gay, + And crowds go quickly by, + It is a glorious summer day, + But I sit here and sigh; + The pavement's hot, my feet are sore, + Yet I must wait outside the door. + + I cannot bear to sit out here, + But I am tied up fast, + I saw my master disappear, + But I could not get past; + 'No dogs allowed inside this shop' + They said, so here I have to stop. + + Ah! here he is, and off we go! + 'Tis jolly to be free! + I bark, and do my best to show, + As he caresses me, + How much I love him, for to part + From him I know would break my heart. + +C. D. B. + + + + +THE FROG AND THE GEESE. + + +Two wild geese, when about to start southwards for the winter, were +entreated by a frog to take him with them. On the geese consenting to do +so if a means of carrying him could be found, the frog produced a stalk +of long grass, got the two geese to take it one by each end, while he +clung to it in the middle by his mouth. In this manner the three were +making their journey, when they were noticed by some men, who loudly +expressed their admiration of the plan, and wondered who had been clever +enough to discover it. The proud frog, opening his mouth to say, 'It was +I,' lost his hold, fell to the earth, and was dashed to pieces. + +_From_ LA FONTAINE. + + + + +AN INDIAN CUSTOM. + + +'Look here!' said a young fellow as he opened the door of the log-house, +in Canada, where he and a friend were 'camping out.' 'See what I have +found dangling from a tree in the forest;' and he held up for his +friend's inspection a tiny pair of leather moccasins gaudily embroidered +with coloured beads. + +'You must put those back where you found them,' said his friend quickly. + +'They are of no value,' interrupted the other; 'there is a hole in the +toe. I expect some Indian mother hung them there to get rid of them.' + +'No! no! they were hung there because the child who wore them is buried +under that tree, and these moccasins are put there for its use in the +next world,' explained his friend. + +'Oh, if that's the case!' said the young fellow, 'I will go back at +once, and replace the little shoes, for I would not hurt their feelings +about their dead friends for anything.' + +So the little shoes were once more hung on the bough of the big +fir-tree. + +Mistaken as are the Red Indian's ideas of the next world, he is yet as +careful as we are to honour the last resting-place of his loved ones. + +S. C. + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 15._) + +CHAPTER III. + + +Mr. Turton lent me the newspaper in which he had read the account of the +wreck of the _Seagull_, and upstairs, in the room which I shared with +two other fellows, I sat down on my bed to master it. + +It appeared that the skipper of the vessel, with seven of the crew, had +been landed by a British cargo steamer at Hobart Town, Tasmania. The +_Westward Ho!_ had picked them up in a small boat about seven days out +from Capetown. + +According to the story of the _Seagull's_ skipper--Captain Wilkinson--she +had experienced extremely bad weather for some days, and, becoming +almost unmanageable, had been run down by a large liner in the middle of +a dark night at the height of the gale. + +Whether the liner was British or foreign, Captain Wilkinson could not +state; but, in any case, she had continued on her way without attempting +to stand by to save life. The _Seagull_ foundered in less than ten +minutes, Captain Knowlton persisting in his refusal to leave in the +first, and--as Captain Wilkinson declared--the only, boat which got +away. He had done his utmost to stand by, in spite of the fury of the +gale; but when day broke, and the storm to some degree abated, there was +no sign of either Captain Knowlton or the _Seagull_. That she had +foundered with the remainder of the crew and her owner the skipper had +not the slightest doubt, although he went as far as to admit, to the +newspaper reporter, the possibility that the small boat in which he had +escaped might have drifted some distance from the scene of the wreck in +the darkness. + +My only gleam of hope was due to Mr. Bosanquet, although I felt inclined +to discount this, because he was given to look at the brightest side of +things, and often predicted fine weather just before a storm. + +'Still,' he urged, 'you do not know for certain that Captain Knowlton +was drowned. I admit there is a great probability that you will never +see him again, but, after all, it is quite within the bounds of +possibility that the skipper's boat drifted away, and that the owner and +the rest of the crew managed to leave the _Seagull_. Of course,' he +added, 'if I am right, you are pretty certain to hear something farther +in a week or two.' + +Accordingly I lived in the most acute suspense during the next few days; +but the time passed without news of Captain Knowlton, and such faint +hope as I had cherished faded entirely away. In the meantime it seemed +evident that Mr. and Mrs. Turton had not shared it. I learned from +Augustus that his father had written to Mr. Windlesham, asking that I +might be removed from Ascot House as a bad bargain. + +Moreover, I began to observe a kind of resentfulness in Mr. Turton's +demeanour, and especially in his wife's. It was rumoured in the school +that they were 'hard up,' and hence the shorter supplies of meat and +butter. But it was Augustus who first made me realise my new situation. + +'I say, Everard,' he said, when we were alone one day, 'I should not +care to stand in your shoes. Now Captain Knowlton is dead you cannot +stay here, you know.' + +'Well,' I answered, 'who wants to stay? I am going to Sandhurst soon.' + +'I guess you are not, though!' he exclaimed. 'There is no one to pay for +you, and Windlesham is mean enough to say he won't take you off our +hands.' + +The entrance of Mr. Bosanquet put an end to Augustus's gloomy forecast +of my future, and, as the assistant master seemed to be the best friend +I had left, I asked his opinion on the subject. + +'Of course,' he said, taking my arm, 'it is a rather difficult position. +If Captain Knowlton has left a will with a legacy to you, there need not +be much difference; but Mr. Turton is of opinion that if this were the +case, he would have heard from the solicitor. Mr. Turton is a good deal +perplexed to know what to do with you, though we will hope for the best, +in spite of everything.' + +Now, I was fifteen, and fairly tall and strong for my age. I could +easily perceive the difficulties at which Mr. Bosanquet hinted, and +that, if Captain Knowlton were actually dead, and had left me nothing in +his will, there was only Aunt Marion to whom it was possible to look for +help; and she had taken no notice of me since her wedding-day. I was +ignorant of her address in India, and felt that I should be little +better off even if I knew it. So, after a few days' reflection, I +determined to speak to Mr. Turton. + +'Well, Everard, what is it now?' he demanded, a little impatiently, as I +entered his study. + +'I want to know about the holidays,' I answered. 'Where am I to go?' + +'Just what I should like to be in a position to tell you,' he exclaimed. +'At present I have been unable to discover the name and address of +Captain Knowlton's solicitor, but, when I go to London with the boys at +the end of the term, I shall do my best to gain farther information. We +will put off the discussion until my return.' + +It was, however, impossible to keep the question of my future in the +background, and no day passed without many speculations. Numerous +out-of-the-way projects had one peculiarity in common--they were all to +end satisfactorily. Even if I were fated to endure certain trials and +hardships, I felt perfectly confident in my ability to rise above them +eventually. + +The first important difference which I experienced as a result of the +loss of the _Seagull_ occurred on the Saturday after this interview with +Mr. Turton. It was the custom to go to Mrs. Turton after dinner on +Saturday for our pocket-money; my own allowance since Captain Knowlton's +departure having been a shilling a week. + +'What do you want, Everard?' asked Mrs. Turton, when my turn came. + +'My shilling, please,' I answered. + +But she ominously shook her head. + +'I am afraid there will not be any more pocket-money for you this term!' +she exclaimed--and, suddenly understanding, I walked dejectedly away. +Before I had gone many yards Smythe took my arm. + +'I can lend you fourpence, old chap,' he said. + +'Awful ass if you do,' cried Augustus, who had a knack of overhearing +what was not intended for his ears. + +'Why am I an ass?' demanded Smythe. + +'Because Everard will never pay you back.' + +'Suppose I don't want him to pay me back?' + +'Oh, well!' said Augustus, 'of course, if he is beggar enough to take +your money!' + +I should have liked to kick Augustus as he walked away with a snigger; +but at least he had made it impossible to take advantage of Smythe's +offer. It was a new and painful experience to stay outside the +confectioner's shop while the other fellows entered, and the matter was +freely discussed in my presence by Smythe and the rest on our return. +Indeed, justice compelled me to agree with Barton's opinion that, as +Turton stood uncommonly little chance of being paid for the current +term's board and tuition, it was scarcely to be expected that he should +feel inclined to provide me with additional pocket-money. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +The end of the term soon came, and on the last afternoon I stood +listening while Smythe, Barton, and the rest of the fellows boasted of +all the wonderful things they intended to do during the holidays. + +'I should not care to stand in Everard's shoes,' said Augustus. 'As +likely as not he will have to go to the workhouse before he has done. He +will see when my father comes back from London.' + +Before they all set out to the railway station the next morning, Mr. +Bosanquet took me apart for a last word of hope and encouragement. He +was not to return to Ascot House after the holidays, and for my part I +felt extremely sorry to bid him good-bye. + +'I feel confident Mr. Turton will do his best for you,' he said. 'But +you must try to make allowances if he seems a little put out. He is not +by any means a rich man, and, of course, he had to pay Mr. Windlesham +for the goodwill of the school. Mr. Turton will feel the loss of your +bill, you understand--that is to say, if Captain Knowlton does not turn +up again.' + +'If he had been rescued,' I asked, 'don't you think we should have heard +news of him before now?' + +'Well, in all probability we should,' said Mr. Bosanquet. 'But strange +things happen sometimes, you know; and, after all, I do not consider it +impossible that he may be stranded somewhere, and prevented from +communicating with his friends.' + +'Still,' I answered, 'all the newspapers and Mr. Turton say he must be +dead.' + +'Anyhow,' he insisted, 'there is no positive proof, and even at the +worst his solicitor may be able to satisfy Mr. Turton about your +future.' + +(_Continued on page 26._) + +[Illustration: "'I can lend you fourpence, old chap,' said Smythe."] + +[Illustration: "'Hullo, Susan!' cried Augustus."] + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 23._) + + +At last the other fellows went to the station with Mr. Turton and Mr. +Bosanquet, leaving me to enjoy the company of Augustus and his mother, +who did not make much of an attempt to disguise her disfavour. It may be +imagined with what anxiety I awaited Mr. Turton's return from London. He +arrived at Ascot House late the following evening, having passed one +night away from home. Although he had a long talk with Mrs. Turton, he +did not speak to me that evening; but an ominous note seemed to be +struck when Augustus told me I was henceforth to breakfast alone in the +schoolroom. So, to my great disgust, the following morning, whilst +Augustus and Mr. and Mrs. Turton breakfasted in the dining-room, a cup +of milk and water, with five thick slices of bread and scrape, were +brought to me on one of the desks; no bacon or egg, or relish of any +kind, accompanied the meal. + +Presently the door opened again, and Mr. Turton entered with a troubled +face. + +'Well, Everard,' he said, 'I succeeded in finding the address of Captain +Knowlton's solicitor, and I had a long conversation with him.' + +'Does he think Captain Knowlton is dead?' I exclaimed. + +'I regret to say that he has no doubt about the fact; but, at the same +time, the estate cannot be administered for some months yet. In any case +that will make no difference to you. Captain Knowlton had not made a +will, and everything he died possessed of will pass to his nearest +relatives.' + +'Then--then, what am I to do?' I asked. + +'The circumstances are extremely unfortunate,' was the answer. 'For me +it is a serious loss, and I confess it is difficult to know what to do +for the best. I understand you have no relatives of any kind.' + +'Only my Aunt Marion.' + +'Ah, that is the Mrs. Ruston whom Mr. Windlesham mentioned. She is in +India, I believe?' + +'Yes,' I answered, 'but I do not know her address.' + +'I can no doubt find it out in an Army List,' he said. 'But from what +Captain Knowlton told Mr. Windlesham, I fear little is to be gained in +that direction.' + +From that day nothing was the same, and I soon began to realise that my +presence in the house was regarded as a nuisance. All my meals were +solitary, and I seldom had enough to eat. + +'Everard!' cried Mrs. Turton, directly I had finished breakfast two +mornings after the above conversation, 'all the servants are very busy +this morning, so you must make your own bed.' + +If she had told me to stand on my head, I should not have felt more +surprise. + +'Don't you understand?' she demanded. + +'Yes, Mrs. Turton.' + +'Then why do you stand staring there? Please set about it at once.' + +I went upstairs to the bedroom which I had occupied alone since the +beginning of the holidays, and after staring at the bed for a few +moments, I was about to strip off the clothes, when I heard a snigger at +the door. + +'Hullo, Susan!' cried Augustus. + +Darting to the dressing-table, I seized a hair-brush, and threw it at +his head. Unfortunately it hit him on the forehead, making an ugly cut, +and, of course, he at once went to show Mr. Turton, who came upstairs a +few minutes later, by which time my bed was made--after a fashion. + +'What was your reason for attacking my son?' demanded Mr. Turton. + +'Well,' I answered, rather sullenly, I am afraid, for I was growing +somewhat desperate, 'he should not be cheeky.' + +'You will not leave this room until dinner-time,' he said, 'and your +meal will consist of bread and water.' + +I spent a miserable morning staring out of the window on to the garden +and the fields beyond, without a book to pass the time, my only comfort +being the sight of Augustus with a strip of court-plaster above his left +eyebrow. + +At half-past one a servant came to tell me to come down to dinner. Alone +in the schoolroom, I at first determined to refuse my food, until hunger +conquered my resolution, and I ate it every scrap. Soon afterwards Mrs. +Turton entered, but she said nothing about Augustus's injury. + +'You must not spend your time in idleness,' she exclaimed. + +'There was not anything to do in my bedroom,' I answered. + +'The house is being cleaned,' she said, 'and all the woodwork has to be +washed. You may as well go down to the kitchen for a pail of hot water +and begin with the wainscotting in the hall.' + +'I'm not a servant!' I answered. + +'Honest work is no disgrace to anybody,' she said. 'You must try to make +yourself useful in every possible way, and be careful not to splash your +jacket.' + +Raging inwardly at my task, I only hesitated a few moments; then, going +down to the kitchen, I asked the good-natured cook for a pail of water. + +'I call it a shame!' she muttered. 'Things were different in Mr. +Windlesham's time. A shame I call it.' + +'Oh, it doesn't matter,' I answered, feeling not a little embarrassed by +her sympathy. + +She filled an iron pail at the boiler-tap, and, as I stood waiting, my +thoughts flew back to earlier days at Acacia Road, and to Jane and her +energetic manner of smacking the oilcloth. But I suppose my ideas had +developed since those times, and certainly I felt this morning that I +was being subjected to the lowest humiliation. However, I carried up the +pail, slopping the water on the stairs at every step, with a +scrubbing-brush in the other hand, and then I set to work. When once I +had begun, I cannot pretend that I found the actual washing of the +wainscot particularly distasteful, although it seemed rather hard, after +I had done my best, that Mrs. Turton should upbraid me for soiling my +clothes. + +It was perhaps a week later that the notion of running away definitely +entered my mind. By that time I had cleaned a considerable portion of +the woodwork of the house, lime-whitened a portion of an outside wall, +filled several coal-scuttles, and swept the yard. My clothes were +naturally not at the best at the end of the term; I had grown +considerably since they were new, and now they were splashed with +distemper and soiled with dirt. One Monday morning I noticed the absence +of the boy who cleaned the boots and knives and forks, and remarked upon +it to Augustus. + +'You see we shall not want him now,' he answered, with one of his +irritating sniggers, and I fully understood the significance of his +words. I try to do the Turtons no injustice, reminding myself that, to +begin with, they were far from rich, and that they had lost the forty +pounds or more which should have been paid for the last term's board and +schooling. Moreover, they had not known me for some years, as the +Windleshams had done; I was in their house, requiring food and shelter, +and perhaps they could not reconcile their consciences to turning me +out. So they determined to make me useful in the only possible way. + +Already I had begun to wonder what would happen when Smythe and the +other fellows came back after the holidays. One thing I knew for +certain, and this was that Augustus would not fail to tell them how I +had spent the time since they left; in fact, he had more than once +hinted at their interest in my proceedings. The dismissal of the +boot-boy made me more and more apprehensive that I should still continue +to be degraded after the beginning of the term, while I felt humiliated +by the conviction that, even in the present circumstances, Mr. and Mrs. +Turton were keeping me only on sufferance. + +But this Monday morning brought me to a determination. I had finished +breakfast, and was wondering what I should be set to do next, when +Augustus opened the schoolroom door. + +'Everard,' he said, 'you are to clean my boots.' + +'Clean them yourself,' I retorted. + +'I shall tell Father,' he exclaimed. + +'Tell your mother, too, if you like,' I said. + +He went to tell them, and a few minutes later Mr. Turton entered the +room. + +'Everard,' he said, 'I wish to speak to you.' + +'Yes, sir,' I answered. + +'You understand,' he continued, 'that I have no desire to say or do +anything to hurt your feelings. I can quite sympathise with you, and I +am grieved that this necessity has arisen. But the fact remains.' + +'I am not going to clean Augustus's boots,' I answered. + +'Do you think work is disgraceful to you?' he demanded. + +'I am not going to clean Augustus's boots,' I insisted. + +'You compel me to take harsh measures,' he said. 'I have no wish to take +them, but I shall give orders that you have no food until you obey me. +You have to work for your living. I certainly cannot afford to keep you +in idleness. You will go to your bedroom, and stay there until you clean +the boots and bring them to my study.' + +Looking back, I am never able to forgive myself for surrendering. Yet I +did surrender, although not at once. I passed Mr. Turton at the door and +walked slowly upstairs, where I shut myself in the bedroom. Then and +there I finally made up my mind. Without any definite scheme when I +succeeded in reaching my destination, I determined to go to London. I +did not possess a penny of money, but I had my silver watch and chain, +which surely it must possible to sell. + +The hundred-miles' walk caused me not the least alarm. I was strong and +well, although I had grown thinner during the holidays; the weather was +warm, and I reckoned on reaching my destination in about a week. As to +what I should do on my arrival I had very little idea; but, for one +thing, I thought I would try to find Rogers and ask his advice. I had +read many books about boys who had gone to London without a penny in +their pockets and made immense fortunes, from Dick Whittington +downwards, and I saw every reason to believe that, in some wonderful +way, I should be equally successful. At all events, I would go. I would +put some clothing into a bundle, and then I would await a favourable +opportunity and take my departure, for at the worst it seemed certain I +should be safe from pursuit. Mr. and Mrs. Turton would be thankful +enough to get me off their hands, although Augustus might miss me as his +butt. + +The hours passed very slowly in the bedroom, and, having breakfasted on +bread and water, I began presently to feel more and more hungry. + +'I will not clean Augustus's boots,' I repeated at intervals, and I +tightened the strap behind my waistcoat. But, as the long afternoon +began to wear away, and my hunger still increased, I sang to a different +tune. 'What did it matter whether I cleaned the boots or not?' I asked +myself, especially if I could succeed in finding Augustus alone in the +garden for a few quiet minutes before I left the school. Anyhow, it +would be the first and the last time. So, just after the clock struck +seven, I opened my door, went down to the hall, and thence to the +kitchen, and knocked at the door. + +'Cook,' I said, 'where do you keep the boot-brushes?' + +'In the coal-cellar, Master Everard,' she answered. 'I would have done +them with pleasure, only Mrs. Turton forbid me.' + +I went into the coal-cellar, took the brush and blacked the boots, and, +oddly enough, I did not cease until I had made them shine far more +brightly than Augustus's boots had ever shone before. Then I took them +in my right hand and carried them upstairs, knocked at the door of Mr. +Turton's study, and was told to enter. + +'I have brought the boots,' I said. + +'Ah,' answered Mr. Turton, 'I am glad you have come to a less +unreasonable state of mind. You can go to the kitchen and ask Cook for +some food.' + +(_Continued on page 34._) + + + + +[Illustration: A PICTURE PUZZLE FROM HISTORY. + +(_For Answer see page 130._)] + + + + +THE FRIENDLY LIGHT. + + + Wildly the wind doth rage, + Loudly the waters roar, + And anxious are the hearts of those + That wait upon the shore, + Till through the darkness of the night + The lighthouse sends its friendly light. + + Warning and guiding light, + It shines across the bay. + And helps the sailor steer his course + Till safely on the way: + The harbour gained, and home once more, + He greets his loved ones on the shore. + +C. D. B. + + +[Illustration: + +1. Water-bug's Lancet (much magnified). +2. Water-bug. +3. Sting of Bee and Poison-dart (both much magnified).] + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +I.--STINGS AND LANCETS. + + +Bees and Spiders, Earwigs, Beetles and Snails, Dragon-flies, +Grasshoppers, and Butterflies are familiar enough to us all; yet how +many realise how 'fearfully and wonderfully' they are made? What a +marvellously complex weapon is the 'sting' of the bee! What a wonderful +'rasp' the snail possesses! How many can tell how an insect smells, and +where its organs of taste and hearing lie? Since these are questions +which young people often ask again and again, some of them will be +answered in the course of these articles. To explain such matters +clearly is a very difficult task, but with the aid of drawings, +specially made for this purpose, the main facts at least should be easy +to grasp. + + * * * * * + +Most of us agree to treat the bee respectfully, having a wholesome dread +of the vengeance he is likely to inflict on those who offend him. But +how does a bee sting? and what is the sting like? + +To take the last question first. The sting of the bee is really an +extremely cunningly devised weapon, so complex that only the bare +outlines of its structure can possibly be described clearly. + +If you turn to the illustration of the bee-sting, you will notice, in +the right-hand figure, at the upper end, three pointed projections or +'processes' marked. The two outer ones (S S) we may neglect, for they +are only protecting sheaths; that in the middle (I S) is the sting +proper. This consists of two parts, (1) a strong gouge-like portion, and +(2) a pair of darts of marvellous delicacy. These darts we cannot see in +position because they lie on the other side of the gouge-like piece. But +to the left you will notice a long sword-like blade, drawn separately, +with a curiously crooked handle and a sharp barbed point. This is one of +the pair of darts. Those who have had the misfortune to be stung may be +interested to know that this painful wound was inflicted thus: When the +bee alighted on you, he first thrust through the skin this hard, pointed +gouge; then one of the darts was pushed down, then the other, a little +further; then the gouge penetrated still deeper, and the opposite dart +deeper still, and so on, first one dart, then the other, going deeper +and deeper, the gouge following. As they penetrated, little drops of +poison oozed out from the barbs of the dart, and this caused the pain +and inflammation. + +This poison is made in what is called the poison gland, the long, +slender, coiled tube (P _g_) in the picture. As the poison is made, it +is stored in the big bag (marked P) at the back of the sting, and when +this is working, the poison is forced down between the gouge and the +darts, to find its way out at the barbs into the flesh. + +But this sting is not only used for the purpose of giving pain. The bee +long ago discovered the fact that food, if it is to be preserved for any +length of time, requires to be specially dealt with. Accordingly the +honey which is destined to be kept is preserved from fermentation by the +addition of a drop of formic acid deposited by the sting. + +Only the workers and the queen-bees of a hive have stings: the males are +stingless. + +In stinging it often happens that the barbed darts are thrust so far +into the wound that they cannot be withdrawn. As a result, the whole +apparatus is left behind, and the bee pays the penalty with its life. + +But whilst some insects, such as the bees, inject poison by means of a +'sting,' others effect the same end by peculiar modifications of the +mouth-parts. The gnat is a case in point: the water-bug, common in our +ponds and ditches, is another. + +Strangely enough, the mechanism adopted is precisely similar in character, +though the parts of which this mechanism is made up are of a totally +different kind. Here, the mouth-parts are specially modified, so as to +form a supporting and piercing weapon, like the 'gouge-like' piercing +weapon of the bee, with delicate pointed and barbed weapons corresponding +to the barbs of the bee's sting. This piercing organ may be used for +sapping the tissue of plants, or, as in the case of gnats and fleas, +they may be employed for the purpose of absorbing the blood of animals. +In the latter case, after the surface of the skin is pierced, a poison +is forced down into the wound, for the purpose, it is thought, of making +the blood more fluid. But this poison is of a highly irritant nature, +and leaves a very painful feeling, accompanied by more or less +inflammation of the parts attacked. + +The water-boatman, which almost every one must have seen swimming +back-downwards in ponds, can inflict a very painful wound in this +manner. The illustration shows the 'lancet' of _nepa_, the water-bug. +The piercing organ just described is the spear-shaped piece bounded on +either side by two long filaments. + +W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S., A.L.S. + + + + +PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS. + + +1.--GEOGRAPHICAL ACROSTIC. + +An American Republic, having a hot climate on the coast-line, but cooler +inland. It is a rich and fertile country, where many valuable trees +grow. Useful plants and fruits are produced in great abundance, and +there are many wild animals, and birds of brilliant plumage. Numerous +shallow rivers water the land, and gold, silver, iron, copper, and other +metals are to be found there. + +1. A mountain near Athens, famous in old times for honey and marble. + +2. A decayed seaport in Italy, with a castle which gave the title to a +celebrated story. + +3. A Cornish fishing village, much frequented by artists. + +4. A village in Ireland, where a notorious fair was formerly held. + +5. A small country or district on the eastern side of an African lake; +its chief town is the terminus of a great caravan route. + +6. A city of Virginia, U.S.A., built on a river of the same name. + +7. A tea-growing district of British India, abounding in wild animals. + +8. The most important seaport of central China. + +C. J. B. + + +2.--ARITHMOGRAPH. + +A word of eight letters, naming the hero of a noted poem. + +1.--6, 5, 4. A game; also the toy with which the game is played. + +2.--7, 3, 4. A wild berry. + +3.--1, 3, 6. A covering for the head. + +4.--4, 7, 2, 6. A tiny particle. + +5.--6, 7, 5, 4. To melt, dissolve, or become fluid. + +6.--7, 8, 1, 3. A peculiar kind of fence. + +7.--4, 1, 3, 6. An interrogation. + +8.--4, 2, 6. Mental faculty. + +C. J. B. + +[_Answers on page 58._] + + + + +THE MYSTERIOUS CHEST. + + +'It is hard lines it should rain the first day of the holidays,' said +George, somewhat gloomily, as he looked out at the heavy downpour, which +was fast changing the tennis-lawn into a miniature lake. + +'No chance of a game!' sighed Pelham, thinking of the swamped +cricket-field. + +'If you two lads want an indoor job, I have one for you, and one that +has baffled me,' said Mr. Carteret, looking up from his paper. + +'What is it, Father?' asked Pelham, the eldest boy. + +'A lot of things were sent here from Vale Place last month, and amongst +them an oak chest, which I cannot unlock, try as I may, so I waited for +you two, as I know you are more handy with your fingers than I am,' +answered his father. + +'We will soon tackle it!' said Pelham, confidently. + +'Father,' here broke in George, 'I thought _you_ were to have Vale Place +when old Mr. Pelham died?' + +'So did I,' said Mr. Carteret shortly. + +'But it is left to some one else, is it not?' went on George, anxious to +understand the matter, which had greatly puzzled both boys for some +weeks. + +'Yes, I meant to tell you about it when you came home,' said their +father. 'It was no good writing bad news, but you must know it sooner or +later. You know,' he continued, 'that my father and Mr. Pelham were +brother-officers in India, and when both my parents were swept away in +one week by cholera, Mr. Pelham brought me home to Vale Place, where I +was brought up as his son and heir. But after his death, a few months +ago, no will could be found, though he had repeatedly told me that he +had made one, leaving Vale Place to me and my children.' + +'Then who has Vale Place now?' asked George, as his father paused a +minute. + +'It passed to the heir,' said Mr. Carteret. 'He is a distant cousin, who +cares nothing about the property, and means to sell it for building +land.' + +'What a shame!' said Pelham, hotly. + +'Well, I do not know that there is any shame about it, for this cousin +has never lived there, and it has none of the old associations for him +that make me regret its loss so deeply. He seems a very considerate man +in some ways, and begged to be allowed to send me all the old furniture +which stood in my room at Vale Place, thinking I should value it, as +indeed I do. So that is how the old chest came to me, and here are the +keys. See what you can do with them.' + +'Come on, George!' said Pelham. 'Where is the chest, father?' + +'Upstairs in the attic. You will want a candle; it is in a dark corner,' +was the answer. + +'I am coming too!' announced Nannie. 'I want to see what is in the +chest. I have fed my birds, and I may not stay out in the rain.' + +'Little girls should not be inquisitive,' said George, who dearly loved +to tease his sister. 'You may see more than you want.' + +'Oh, George! what?' said Nannie, in rather a shaky voice. 'What do you +think is in the chest?' + +'You will see by-and-by, and remember I have warned you!' said George, +mysteriously. + +Nannie, though alarmed, bravely stood her ground and watched the two +boys as they tried every key on the bunch; then, finding that none +fitted, they used a screw-driver, and at last were successful. + +'Now, Nannie!' shouted George, as Pelham lifted the heavy lid. 'Look +out! I am sure I heard something stirring inside.' + +Pelham held up the candle and looked eagerly into the dark chest. + +'Empty! quite empty!' he cried, in a tone of the utmost disgust. +'Nothing at all in it but an old letter!' and he threw the paper on to +the ground by the side of the chisel. + +'I told you so,' began Nannie, but the sentence was hardly out of her +mouth before she gave a little shriek and leapt high into the air. 'A +rat! a horrid rat!' shrieked the child. 'It ran over my foot.' + +George did not shriek; but he, too, was startled, for the rat had +appeared so suddenly. + +'It came right out of the chest,' he said, as if to excuse his alarm. + +'It could not!' said Pelham, bluntly. 'I was looking in the chest when +Nannie shrieked, and there was nothing in it--that I know! I saw no rat +anywhere.' + +'But I saw it!' said George. 'Look! look!' he shouted, excitedly. 'There +it goes! Just by your foot! You may depend upon it this box has a false +bottom. Let us turn it over and see.' + +'I believe you are right, George!' said Pelham. 'Hold the candle, Nan, +and we will see where this rat came from.' + +The chest, empty as it appeared to be, was yet so heavy that it was with +difficulty that the two boys could turn it over, but they did it at +last, and now there was no doubt where the rat had come from, for the +floor was strewn with little bits of nibbled paper, and there was a +biggish hole in the false bottom by which he had evidently gnawed his +way into the chest. + +'Now, then, the fun is beginning!' exclaimed Pelham, excitedly, 'We must +get inside this false bottom; it is full of old letters. I can see that +much! Perhaps we shall find a love-letter of William the Conqueror to +Joan of Arc!' + +'Oh, no, you will not!' said Nannie, wisely, 'for Joan of Arc lived many +reigns after William I. I read about her only last week.' + +But neither Pelham nor George heeded Nannie's superior information, so +busy were they prizing off the somewhat thin layer of wood which formed +the false bottom of the chest. + +It gave way at last, and disclosed a whole heap of letters, some nibbled +into mere powder by the busy rat and some still uninjured, and on the +top of all a yellow parchment folio bearing in large letters the words, +'_Will of George Pelham, Esquire, of Vale Place, Surrey._' + +Pelham got very red as he exclaimed, excitedly, 'Surely this is the lost +will!' + +'If it is, we owe it to the rat!' said George, half thinking Pelham was +joking. + +'I must take it at once to Father,' said Pelham, and he ran down the +attic stairs closely followed by the no less excited George and Nannie. + +'See, Father, this will! Is it right? Will you have Vale Place after +all?' said Pelham, eagerly; as he held out the papers. + +Mr. Carteret took the bundle, looked at the heading, and then turned it +hastily over to see the signatures at the end. + +Yes, it was duly signed and witnessed, and without doubt was the +long-sought will! + + * * * * * + +Why Mr. Pelham should have so carefully concealed his will was never +explained, but people from time immemorial have done odd things with +their wills, and will probably continue to do so. It was, after all, of +little consequence now where it had been found, so long as the will was +a true one, and of that no doubt was ever raised. + +Before many months were over Mr. Carteret and his family were settled at +Vale Place, where the 'mysterious chest,' as Nannie always called it, +has the place of honour in the entrance hall. + +S. CLARENDON. + +[Illustration: "'We will see where this rat came from.'"] + +[Illustration: The Death of a Deserter.] + + + + +A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. + +True Tales of the Year 1805. + +II.--SIGNOR ROSSIGNOL'S PERFORMING BIRDS. + + +It was April, and the year 1805, when two little fellows, out for the +day from Charterhouse School, stood at the bow window of a large house +on Ludgate Hill, London, waiting for the return of their uncle from his +country house. + +'Here he comes!' said the lads, as a portly figure came round the +corner, and the next minute he was in the room, exclaiming, in his +cheery way, 'Well, lads, glad to see you! What must we do this +afternoon? Is it to be the Tower of London, or the river, or the +Monument? Anything you choose will suit me.' + +'Then, sir,' said the elder boy, eagerly, 'do let us go and see the +performing birds. All our fellows are talking about them.' + +'To be sure we will! I, too, have heard about this Signor Rossignol, as +he calls himself, and we will have a bit of dinner, and start off at +once to Charing Cross.' + +The 'bit of dinner' proved to be a very ample meal, to which our +schoolboys did full justice, for school meals a hundred years ago were +far from satisfying, and a dinner like this one was not a thing to be +hurried over. However, there must come a time when even hungry +schoolboys can eat no more, and at last, when even another fig seemed an +impossibility, a start was made for the birds. They arrived at the Hall +in good time, and had excellent seats, just facing the stage. + +When the curtain drew up, it disclosed a long table, on which were +placed a dozen cages, each containing a little bird. Their 'tutor,' as +Signor Rossignol styled himself, stood at the head of the table, and, +after a low bow to the audience, he began: 'Behold my little family of +birds! They have all the true military instinct, and are ready, as you +will see, to do all in their power to defend this land of freedom.' + +Loud and prolonged cheers greeted this speech, for the Battle of +Trafalgar had not yet taken place, and the dread of a sudden landing of +the French 'tyrant' was never long out of the thoughts of any Briton. +When the cheering had ceased, Rossignol opened the cages one after +another, and each bird hopped out in a sedate way, and placed itself on +the table, waiting for orders. + +'Fall in!' shouted Rossignol, in a loud military voice, and at once the +birds formed themselves into two ranks. Then their tutor fitted a little +paper helmet on to each bird's head, and fixed tiny wooden muskets under +their left wings. + +Thus equipped, the birds, at the word of command from their tutor, went +through the usual exercises of soldiers amidst the applause of the +audience. + +Then another bird, not previously exercised, was brought forward. + +'Death of a deserter,' explained the tutor, as six birds placed +themselves three on each side of the new arrival, and solemnly conducted +him from the top to the bottom of the table, where there was a small +brass cannon, charged with a little gunpowder. + +The unfortunate deserter was placed in front of this cannon, his guards +retired in an orderly way, and he was left alone to meet his fate. A +lighted match was now put into the claws of another bird, who hopped +slowly up to the cannon and discharged it. At the sound of the explosion +the deserter fell down on to the table, and lay there as if rigid in +death. + +'Oh, I say! That is too bad!' said the younger boy. 'I don't think poor +birds ought to be blown from the gun like that. It's cruel, is it not, +sir?' + +Before the uncle could reply came the sharp order, 'Stand!' and, behold, +the dead deserter came to life again, and hopped away to join his +friends! + +The birds were now replaced in their cages, and it was the signor's turn +to occupy the stage. + +First of all he gave a clever imitation of the notes of all birds, +ending up with the prolonged 'jug-jug' of the nightingale, which he did +to such perfection that you could hardly believe there was not a grove +full of those birds on the stage. + +'He may well call himself "Rossignol"' (the French for nightingale), +said the boys' uncle as he gave a hearty clap to the clever performer, +'for he seems as real a nightingale as I ever listened to.' + +Next Rossignol produced a fiddle without any strings to it, and going +through all the airs and graces of a real violinist, he sawed the air +with an imaginary bow, making the notes with his voice so well that you +could not imagine it was not a real violin playing. This delighted the +audience most of all, and he was encored again and again, and when the +entertainment was finished, the two boys said 'they wished they could +have it all over again!' + + * * * * * + +For many months Rossignol continued to draw large audiences to hear his +imitation of birds, &c., but one fatal day it was discovered that the +sounds were produced by an instrument--probably a pierced +peach-stone--which he concealed in his mouth, and after that no one +cared to hear him, and he died in great poverty a few years later. + +S. CLARENDON. + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 27._) + +CHAPTER V. + + +My chief fear when I went to bed that night was that I might not wake +early the following morning, for in this event my departure would have +to be put off. I must leave Ascot House before any of the Turtons were +up, if I left at all; I was bent upon getting away from Castlemore at +the very earliest moment. In my room there were three beds, two being +unoccupied during the holidays, and there was a chest of drawers which I +shared with my companions. On the knob of one of the drawers hung the +bag in which were kept my brush and comb, and this I thought would serve +to hold the few things I intended to take with me. Not daring to get the +things ready that night, lest Mr. Turton should pay one of his +occasional visits to the bedroom when he turned out the gas, I lay down, +and in spite of the important coming event, soon fell fast asleep. When +I awoke the sun shone into the room, and getting out of bed and looking +at the watch which was to be shortly converted into money, I saw that it +was twenty minutes to six. + +Losing no time over dressing, putting on the better of my two +knickerbocker suits, I removed the brush and comb from the bag, putting +in their place two pairs of stockings, a spare flannel shirt, a pair of +gum-shoes, two handkerchiefs, and a flannel cricket cap. + +Having little fear that any one but the servants would be about the +house, I tightened the string of my bag, and went quietly downstairs. In +the room where we kept our hats and overcoats I put on my laced boots, +which already were somewhat thin in the soles, and my straw hat, as the +sun had been extremely hot the last few days; and then I began to think +of breakfast, because I made up my mind that it would be wise not to +attempt to dispose of my watch and chain until Castlemore had been left +some distance behind. About ten miles on the London road, although I did +not know the precise distance, stood the small town of Broughton, and +there, I thought, it might be safe to replenish my exchequer. +Consequently, having not a penny in my purse at present, I must wait +until I reached Broughton for breakfast, unless it were possible to +obtain something to eat before I left the school. + +So, leaving my bag in the hat-room, I went to the kitchen, where the +cook was in the act of lighting the fire. + +'Good morning, Cook,' I said. + +'You are up early this morning, Master Everard,' she answered. + +'I am most awfully hungry,' I continued. 'Do you think you could give me +something to eat?' + +Turning her broad back to the fireplace, she stared at me from head to +foot, seeming especially to be impressed by the fact that I had put on +my boots. But if she had a suspicion of my intention, she kept it to +herself, and going to the larder, returned with a plate on which lay a +thick slice of dry bread and another of cold beef. + +Thanking her, I took the bread and meat and left the plate, then, +returning to the hat-room for my bag, unbolted the front door without +making a noise and walked calmly away from the house, beginning to eat +my breakfast as soon as I reached the road. It was a beautiful summer +morning, and the birds sang in the garden trees as I walked towards the +margin of the town. Holding my bag by the long string I let it hang over +my left shoulder, and stepping out briskly soon passed the last houses +in Castlemore. Although my chief feeling was one of relief at having +left Ascot House and the Turtons behind, it was impossible to avoid a +glance back at the days which I had spent so happily with the +Windleshams. I no longer had the least doubt that Captain Knowlton had +been lost with the _Seagull_, and as I covered the first mile or two of +my long journey, I became impressed with a conviction of all the +difference his death had made to my life. Instead of Sandhurst, I could +not tell what lay before me, and yet I scarcely doubted that, whatever +it might be, the end would prove satisfactory. + +I determined to lose no time over my first stage, and after walking for +three-quarters of an hour, I passed a finger-post, which conveyed the +information that Broughton lay still eight miles distant. Although I had +told myself yesterday that Mr. Turton was very unlikely to start in +pursuit, that he would be only too glad to get rid of an unremunerative +boarder, this morning seemed to make the affair look different. He might +consider that his duty compelled him to set out in search of the +runaway, so that it would be wise not to rest until the first ten miles +had been put between myself and the school. + +I felt anxious to reach Broughton, in order to dispose of my watch and +chain, being already somewhat afraid that there might arise some +difficulty about its disposal. I had never attempted to sell anything +before, nor was it easy to form an opinion concerning the value of the +only things I had to barter. Still, four pounds appeared a likely sum, +or three pounds ten at the lowest, and this would surely serve to +provide food and shelter until I reached London. + +Very few persons passed me by the way, but coming within sight of the +first houses of the small town, which was in reality little more than a +large village, I began to overtake and soon passed a man who I little +imagined would cross my path again. Broughton is approached by a long +decline, at the foot of which, on the right, stands a rural inn. Before +its door this morning were a couple of waggons, one laden with hay, the +other with sheep-turnips. A smock-frocked carter stood eating a chunk of +bread and fat bacon, while a fox-terrier begged for scraps. Having +walked ten miles in the hot sunshine, I was glad of any excuse to halt, +so that a few minutes after passing the man in the road, I stopped to +watch the dog. + +While I stood there the man caught me up again, and he also came to a +stop, between myself and the waggons. He was quite young, probably not +more than one or two and twenty, tall and well-built, although he walked +with a slouching gait. He wore corduroy trousers fastened round the +waist by a narrow strap, and a blue shirt, with an unbuttoned jacket of +fustian. On his head was a limp-brimmed, dirty, drab felt hat, and in +his left hand he carried a red handkerchief, which apparently contained +all his possessions, and in his right a stout stick which had been +obviously cut from a hedge. His hair was extremely short and black, but +he could not have shaved for some days; his face was deeply sunburnt and +one of the most evil-looking I had ever seen. I imagined that he was +looking for a job at hay-making or harvesting, and in that case he would +have little difficulty in finding one at the present season. + +Without entering the inn, he walked on towards the main street, which +contained two dozen or more of small shops, and a few minutes later I +took the same direction, soon beginning to look about for the kind of +shop I wanted. After I had passed the tramp a second time, I saw the +usual sign of a pawnbroker's, and, thinking it would look better to +remove my watch and chain before entering, I took the bar out of my +button-hole. + +[Illustration: "The tramp stood outside, watching me with the greatest +intentness."] + +Stopping outside the shop, I stood a few minutes gazing in at its +window, which was filled with a miscellaneous collection: teapots, +telescopes, knives, spoons, pipes, and one or two flutes and +concertinas. Presently I summoned enough resolution to enter, and going +to the counter, held out the watch and chain to the rather elderly man +behind it. + +'I want to sell this watch and chain,' I said. + +'Oh, you do, do you?' he answered, and opening the watch, he began to +examine the works. He looked so doubtful that I began to fear he would +refuse to buy, in which case I scarcely knew what to do, as it seemed +unlikely that I should find another such shop that day. It was already +past eleven o'clock, and after my walk I was beginning to feel hungry. +Certainly he had no right to buy the watch from a boy of my age, but I +suppose that after a little hesitation he was unable to resist the +temptation to make a bargain. + +'How much do you want for it?' he asked, as he closed the lid with a +snap. + +'Four pounds,' I answered, thinking that a reasonable demand. + +Still holding the watch with the chain hanging down between his +fingers, he broke into a laugh which did not sound very merry. + +'Four pounds!' he exclaimed. 'Think yourself lucky if you get ten +shillings. I will give you fifteen.' + +It was a terrible disappointment, but at the time it did not occur to me +to doubt the man's good faith. I came to the conclusion that I had +ignorantly over-valued my property, and at least fifteen shillings would +be better than nothing. + +'Very well,' I answered, and, placing the watch and chain on a shelf +behind him, the man opened a drawer under the counter. While he slowly +counted out the money in silver, I happened to glance at the window. In +a moment my eyes seemed to be riveted by those of the tramp, whose +existence I had quite forgotten. He stood outside the shop, watching me +with the greatest intentness, and suddenly I felt afraid, and wished he +had gone on his way, and left me to go mine. I spent as long a time as +possible counting the money and putting it in my knickerbockers' pocket, +but when I at last left the shop the tramp was still staring in at the +window. + +Still, he took no notice of me as I walked away from the door, not even +turning his head. With money in my pocket, my appetite suddenly became +urgent, and seeing a coffee-shop a little further down the street, I +entered and sat down at a table, which sadly required scrubbing. An +untidy girl came to ask what I wanted, but when I suggested a chop--for +'chops and steaks' was painted over the window--she said I could only +have eggs and bacon. + +'I will have some eggs and bacon,' I answered. + +'Poached or boiled?' she asked. + +'Poached, please.' + +'Tea or coffee?' she suggested. + +'Coffee,' I replied, and, after waiting ten minutes or longer, I was +supplied with a plate of hot eggs and bacon, a thick slice of bread, and +a cup of coffee. Not in a mood to be very particular, I ate every scrap +with the greatest relish, and altogether I could not have spent less +than three-quarters of an hour in the coffee-shop. My meal cost +eightpence, and its effect was to make me feel extremely lazy and +sleepy; but, having a long day before me, I determined to find some +shady spot and rest for an hour or two until the heat of the day had +passed. Then I would push along until I was about twenty miles from +Castlemore, when I must find a lodging for the night. + +(_Continued on page 44._) + +[Illustration: "The horse nearly carried the King into the French +lines."] + + + + +GEORGE II. AT DETTINGEN. + + +At the battle of Dettingen, George II. was on horseback, and rode +forward to reconnoitre the enemy. The horse, frightened by the +cannonading, ran away with the King, and nearly carried him into the +midst of the French lines. Fortunately, however, one of the attendants +succeeded in stopping him. An ensign seized the horse's bridle, and +enabled the King to dismount. + +'Now that I am on my own legs,' said he, 'I am sure that I shall not run +away.' + +The King then abandoned his horse, and fought on foot at the head of his +Hanoverian battalions. With his sword drawn and his body placed in the +attitude of a fencing-master who is about to make a lunge, he continued +to expose himself without flinching to the enemy's fire, and in bad +English, but with the utmost pluck and spirit, called to his men to come +on. + +This was the last occasion upon which a sovereign of Great Britain was +under the fire of an enemy. + + + + +MY FRIEND. + + + Who is my friend? Not he who seeks + By flattery to sway; + Who, whether I be good or bad, + Gives me his praise alway. + + Who is my friend? Not he who frowns + On me when I am wrong, + But never gives encouragement + To make me glad and strong. + + Who is my friend? 'Tis he who makes + My highest good his aim; + Whose love sincere is shown alike + In praise or wholesome blame. + +E. DYKE. + + + + +HEROES AND HEROINES OF FAMOUS BOOKS. + +I.--'THE WATCHERS ON THE LONGSHIPS.'[1] + + +The scene of this story is laid at Land's End in Cornwall, or, to be +precise, to the west of the little village of Sennen Cove, and the time +chosen is toward the end of last century. + +The month of the year was November, and the night was wild and +tempestuous, so that the storm beat against the little thatched cottage +in one room of which a woman was dying. Gathered about her bed was her +husband, Owen Tresilian, and their son Philip and daughter Mary. We pass +over the sad scene connected with the death of Mrs. Tresilian, just +referring to her last words to the father of her children. There had +been times in Owen's life when, finding himself without means and +without work, with want staring himself, his wife, and his family, in +the face, he had resorted to bad ways of obtaining money. He would never +have yielded to the temptation had it not been for the persuasive words +and occasionally the threats of his mates. Many of these men were +wreckers; that is to say, they deliberately placed on the coast false +lights which lured passing ships to destruction. It was from the wrecks +of the disabled vessels that they gathered up the treasures carried to +them by the waves, and it was known that one or two of the more +desperate characters among them had not hesitated to throw back into the +water the poor unfortunate creatures whom they had lured to destruction, +as they struggled to reach the shore. Owen, indeed, had never gone thus +far, but he had participated in their illicit gains, and had himself +helped to kindle the lights that were to wreck the boats. His dying +wife, whose trouble when she heard of this was very great, had made him +promise that whatever might occur after her death, he would never again +be guilty of such wicked work. He had promised her faithfully that none +should ever force him again to engage in such undertakings, and he had +added solemnly, 'They may kill me first, but I would rather starve than +do it.' Scarcely had she finished speaking to husband and children, when +wild shouts were heard outside the cottage, from the midst of the storm, +'Come on, men! come on--a wreck! a wreck!' Lights passed the little +windows, and the clatter of many feet along the path close by told the +family what manner of men were about. + +The story goes on to tell how Owen, after his wife's death, his son +Philip and his daughter Mary, endeavoured to lead lives very different +from those of the greater number of their neighbours. They had come +under the influence of Wesley's teaching, and were not afraid to let it +be seen that they wished to honour God and keep His commandments. Owen's +mates, who had known him in the days when he had thought very much as +they did, left no stone unturned to show their ill-will to him and his +family now that so marked a change had taken place. There was in the +village a certain Arthur Pendrean. He was the son of old Squire +Pendrean, who had at first greatly opposed his son's wish to become a +clergyman. On one occasion, when Wesley had been preaching in the +village, and had been in danger from the rough crowd, Arthur, then but a +boy, had been so indignant at their behaviour, that he had rushed +forward with the intention of placing himself between the old man and +his rough assailants. + +A few days later this story reached the Squire's ears, who, in a violent +passion, sent for his son and told him that if he ever went near the +Methodists again, he would disinherit him and turn him out of doors. A +few years later, when, between sixteen and seventeen years of age, the +youth left school, he told his father boldly that he wished to go to +Oxford, and that he intended to become a clergyman. The boy had a hard +time of it before he won the old Squire's consent, but in time leave was +given. + +Arthur Pendrean had from the first taken a keen interest in the +Tresilian family, and had watched most carefully over Philip. He was +aware of the ill-will felt by the rest of the villagers towards his +charges, and made it no secret that he was one of the sternest opponents +of the evil practice of wrecking. It was well known that Arthur had set +his face against their evil designs, and that it was his determination +to have a lighthouse built, no matter at what cost, to warn off ships +from this doubly dangerous spot. The worst-disposed among the men would +have made short work of the young clergyman could they have had their +way and escaped consequences. At least, they would prevent, if it lay in +their power, the carrying out of his cherished plan, the erection of a +lighthouse. It was perhaps natural that hating the 'parson,' they should +not feel kindly disposed towards those who closely followed his advice +and over whom he so carefully watched. It was in these circumstances +that the following occurrences took place. Arthur was about to ride to +St. Sennen one Sunday morning, when his faithful old servant, Roger, +came up to him and said, 'I hear, Mr. Arthur, that a cutter with a +press-gang on board is at anchor off Sennen Cove. Sunday is a favourite +day for those chaps to land; they always find the men at home then, and +so they are easier to catch. I thought I would warn you about it, sir, +because their game is to carry off all the men and lads who are called +Methodists.' + +'This is bad news,' Arthur had replied. 'I knew a press-gang was in the +neighbourhood, but never thought of their coming our way. I will gallop +down to Sennen Cove at once.' + +Arrived at the Cove, Arthur found everything as usual, the cutter lying +quietly at anchor and a few men and boys sitting or lying lazily on the +beach watching her, and speculating as to the intentions of those on +board. + +On Sunday afternoon we again see the young curate; we hear his stern +voice as he asks a group of six stalwart men, 'What are you doing here, +men? Take your hands off those lads at once; what right have you to drag +them away?' We see the men, furious at this repulse, falling upon Arthur +from behind and dragging him to the ground, and Philip with him. The +young clergyman, brave man that he was, was no match for six assailants +at once, and was of course unable to withstand the combined attack. +Promising Philip that he would have him released when he reached +Plymouth, for he was under seventeen, and handing him as a memento a +small Testament, and commending him to the care of God, he was obliged +to witness the rowing away of the boat that carried his young charge +every minute farther out of sight. + +Philip's capture would not have been brought about had it not been for +the ill designs of the youths of his own age who were no friends to +Arthur Pendrean. The scheme for decoying him into the immediate +neighbourhood of the press-gang belonged to two of the worst characters +in the village. But we will not enter into details of their scheming. It +is enough to know that for the time being their wicked designs were +successful, and we find Philip within a very short time on board the +_Royal Sovereign_, one of the finest line-of-battle ships in Earl Howe's +fleet. + +The trouble and grief of his father and little sister when they learned +what had happened was great. Owen at first refused all comfort. It was +in vain that Mr. Pendrean promised to spare no pains to bring the lad +home again: the bereaved father would not be comforted. It was in this +state of mind that he set out for Falmouth, accompanied by Arthur +Pendrean, as they thought it not improbable that the cutter might put +into this port before proceeding to Plymouth. Her crew were, however, +too wide awake, and the press-gang too anxious to secure prize-money, to +run any risk of losing those whom they had captured, and pressed for his +Majesty's navy; they therefore made straight for the fleet. How Philip +Tresilian subsequently fought in the battle of the first of June, how he +saw for the first time and understood something of the horrors of war, +are all graphically described by the author. + +(_Concluded on page 42._) + + +FOOTNOTE: + +[1] This favourite book is by James F. Cobb. (Wells Gardner, Darton, & +Co., London.) + + +[Illustration: "He told his son he would disinherit him and turn him out +of doors."] + +[Illustration: "She was just high enough, and could light the lamps."] + + + + +HEROES AND HEROINES OF FAMOUS BOOKS. + +I.--'THE WATCHERS ON THE LONGSHIPS.' + +(_Concluded from page 39._) + + +We shall now take a peep at the lighthouse and its first watcher. 'That +will never be finished,' said one of the wreckers, when he saw the work +slowly progressing on the lonely rock at Land's End. But it was +finished. Arthur Pendrean wrote to many rich ship-owners in London and +elsewhere, and at length, by the aid of their money and the toil of +skilful workmen, a light began to burn in the Longships Lighthouse on +September 29, 1795. Those were early days of lighthouses, and experience +had hardly yet proved the risk and the danger of leaving one man alone +on a solitary rock to attend to the lights, often cut off for days, or +even weeks, from all communication with the shore. In these days things +are very different. Three men, and sometimes four, are appointed to take +charge of lighthouses, such as the Longships, Eddystone, and others. + +One night a furious gale from the south-west raged along the coast; many +were the watchers at Sennen and other villages along the shore, keeping +a sharp look-out for wrecks; but whether owing to the lighthouse or to +the fact that there were not many vessels about just then, the evil +hopes of those who were longing to profit by the misfortunes of others +were frustrated. Owen felt very anxious about the lonely +lighthouse-keeper, whom he could not help thinking of as trimming his +lamps on the solitary rock with the roar of the ocean around and below +him. He knew that one who had not been there could not possibly have any +idea of the awful noise on the Longships Rock occasioned by the roaring +and the raging of the waves in the caverns underneath. We cannot stay to +describe all that Jordan, the lighthouse-keeper, in his loneliness +experienced, nor to tell how the waves, leaping above the lighthouse, +sometimes completely covered it. We see him as he walks about, now up +and now down, almost terrified by the fierce yells and shrieks which +fell upon his ears, and at last watch him, in despair, fling himself +upon his bed. Oh, that he had never been tempted to come to this +accursed, haunted rock--for haunted he felt certain it was! Like most +sailors, he was more or less superstitious, and the angry roar in the +caverns beneath sounded to him like the roar of hundreds of imprisoned +wild beasts, until, by-and-by, losing all his presence of mind, his hair +turns white in a single night with terror, and he becomes a maniac. It +was thus that Arthur Pendrean found him several days later, when, +seeing, to his great grief, that the lamps were unlit, he put out to +learn the cause in a little boat manned by Owen and one or two of his +friends. How Owen and the others failed to effect a landing on the +rock, and how the brave young clergyman made a bold leap, springing +safely upon a projecting ledge of the Longships, is all thrillingly told +in the chapter headed 'A Hazardous Voyage and a Bold Leap.' + +Perhaps the most surprising part of the story is the bravery of Mary +Tresilian, Philip's little sister, who, although only a child, when she +sees that no man can be found to undertake the dangerous and difficult +work of keeping the lamps lit on the Longships, begs her father most +earnestly to himself undertake the task, and permit her to accompany +him. At first he would not hear of it, neither would Arthur Pendrean; +but the child pleaded so earnestly and fearlessly that, in the end, no +one else coming forward to undertake the duty, they yielded to her +prayers. And so we find the light burning again in the lighthouse, +thanks to the courage and unselfishness of a brave little girl. + +'Trust me, I will be a match for them, somehow or other,' said Nichols, +when he knew who the new lighthouse-keepers were. 'I have an old grudge +against that Tresilian, and I mean to pay him out. As to that parson, +you all know what I think of him.' + +'Well, John, there's many a chap here will be glad enough to help you,' +said Pollard. + +A very exciting chapter is that entitled 'A New Conspiracy,' which tells +how Owen, coming ashore with some fish, was waylaid by a ruthless gang +of wreckers and smugglers, who tied him up as a prisoner, and would have +left him to starve had it not been for one of them with a little more +heart than the rest, who cut the cords that bound his wrists, seeing +there was no chance of his escape from the cavern into which they thrust +him, bolting and barring the gate that closed it. A more wretched +dungeon could scarcely be imagined. Dark even in brilliant noon-day, +damp and dripping with slimy sea-weed, the ground full of pools of +stagnant sea water, the air so chilly that it seemed to freeze one to +the very bones, such was the place to which these cowardly enemies +consigned the unfortunate man. And he? His thoughts were of his little +child. Truly his troubles were great; his wife was dead, his son torn +from him, and now his daughter, his only child, doomed, as he thought, +to a terrible fate, while he, her father, was a prisoner and powerless +to help her. But was he powerless? Could he not pray? It was this +thought that caused him to fall on his knees in his lonely prison and +entreat protection for her from the Father in heaven. + +And Mary, what was she doing? At first, when she found that her father +did not come back, she gave way to grief. The darkness coming on and the +tempest rising, with trembling hands she tried to make a fire. Suddenly +the thought struck her that the lamps were not lit, and she determined, +brave child that she was, to light them herself. She had often watched +her father do it, and she knew how. She stood on tip-toe to reach the +lamps, but they were far, far above her. Nothing daunted, she piled one +thing above another until every article that she could lay hold of was +in use except the old Bible. Being a very reverent little girl, she +could not bear the idea of treading on the Holy Book; but, at last, when +she had reflected that her standing on the book for the purpose she had +in view, the saving of the lives of many poor sailors, could do it no +harm, she placed it reverently on the top of the pile, and above it, +that she might not tread directly on to it, a large basin. And now she +was just high enough, and found, to her great delight, that she could +light the lamps. Great was the surprise of Nichols and his companions +when they saw, as they ascended rising ground with their false light, +the bright rays of light streaming out from the Longships. For a minute +or two they could say nothing; then a volley of wicked words proceeded +from them. + +'Who would have thought it? That child has managed to light the lamps, +and there they are burning as brightly as ever.' + +'Who would have thought it indeed?' exclaimed Nichols. 'If it had ever +entered my head that the girl would have been up to those tricks, I'd +have rowed out in Tresilian's boat, carried her off from the lighthouse, +and locked her up with her father; and now here's all my fine plan +spoiled.' + +For the beautiful ending of this attractive story, of Owen's release and +Philip's rescue from drowning by his own father, and of the punishment +that befell the wicked men who occasioned the deaths of so many brave +fellows, we can only say that our young readers should go to the book +itself, where they will find these facts all set forth in a thoroughly +interesting manner. To-day a new lighthouse stands on the Longships, and +the light shines out at an elevation of one hundred and ten feet above +high-water mark, and is visible at a distance of eighteen miles. + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +II.--SOME WEAPONS OF OFFENCE. + + +The sting of the bee and the lancet of the gnat, although fashioned of +very different materials, bear a close likeness in their mechanism. In +each case the piercing organ is, in the first place, a gouge-like weapon +which prepares the way for more delicate lancets. But in the spider we +find a very different piece of machinery for the injection of the +poison. It is formed by a pair of peculiarly modified legs which act as +jaws, and are armed each with a powerful claw, at the tip of which, as +in the poison-fang of the viper, is a small hole. Out of this hole a +drop of poison oozes when the prey is seized, and this has the effect of +paralysing the victim. The poison is formed in a curious bag, or 'gland' +(G.L), which communicates with the claw by means of a long tube or duct. + +Many people feel a remarkable repugnance or even dread for spiders. +This, in many cases at least, is due to the supposed venom in their +bite. Yet, except the famous 'Tarantula,' no spiders really inflict a +painful wound. Tales of fearsome black spiders are common enough. One of +the spiders known as 'line weavers' is reputed to have a very poisonous +bite. To test the truth of this, one authority on spiders repeatedly +allowed himself to be bitten, yet suffered no inconvenience! In the +early and barbarous days of medical practice, a spider was frequently +applied to the wrists of patients suffering from fever. + +Even the virulence of the dreaded Tarantula's bite has been greatly +exaggerated. It was supposed to cause the disease known as Tarantism: +the victim was seized with a mad desire to dance. The mania, while it +lasted, was accompanied with leaping, contortions, gesticulations, and +wild cries, until finally the fit of hysteria, for such it was, wore +itself out. The methods of treatment were many and curious. One of the +most favoured was to bury the patient up to the neck! But the dulcet +strains of music were believed to be the most powerful of all cures, and +certain peculiar tunes came to be regarded as especially effective, and +hence became known as Tarantella! + +Parts of India now desert are said to have been deprived of their +inhabitants through the dread caused by certain huge spiders known as +the Galeodes. Their bite is without doubt extremely painful, and may +cause violent headache, fainting fits, or even temporary paralysis. +Camels and sheep are sometimes so severely bitten by these spiders that +death results. + +Occasionally the spider catches a Tartar, for wasps and bees now and +again get entangled in the web spread for more helpless victims. Rushing +out in a blind fury, the spider closes with his captive, and then +follows a fight to the death. Sometimes the spider wins, but as often as +not the sting of his would-be victim is thrust home with deadly effect, +for the soft and pulpy body of the spider offers a target not easily +missed. + + * * * * * + +There is a saying that we should 'eat to live,' but the dragon-flies +seem to have reversed this rule, for they appear almost to 'live to +eat,' their appetites being enormous. This is especially true of the +larval or infantile stages of growth, and the manner of capturing their +prey is peculiar. + +Readers of _Chatterbox_, who combine a love of natural history with a +fondness for boating, have probably many a time watched the gauze-winged +dragon-fly hawking for flies. But how many have realised that, below the +surface of the stream, the coming generation of dragon-flies was waging +a precisely similar war--a war, too, even more relentless? The +full-fledged dragon-fly cannot bring himself to venture out, even to +eat, unless the sun be shining; but the budding dragon-fly has not yet +learnt to be so particular, and hunts incessantly, be the weather fine +or wet. The apparatus by which his prey is captured cannot, however, be +easily described. The mouth of an insect is made up of many separate +parts, and that which in other insects forms the 'under-lip,' is in the +young dragon-fly peculiarly modified to form what is known as the +'mask.' This remarkable piece of apparatus may be compared to a pair of +nippers mounted on a jointed and freely movable handle. When not in use +these nippers are kept folded up close under the head; but as soon as +prey comes within reach, the nippers flash out, and the victim is seized +and brought to the powerful jaws, where it is rapidly torn to pieces. + +The weapons of offence of the spider and dragon-fly larva differ in one +important particular from those of the bee and the water-bug, and +similar insects: the former are used for the capture of victims intended +as food, whilst the latter are employed, in the case of the bee, for +attack or defence; and in the case of the water-bug for robbing the +animal or plant of a small and quite insignificant quantity of its +blood, or sap, as the case may be. + +W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S. + +[Illustration: + +1. Young Dragon-Fly and "Mask" (magnified). +2. Dragon-fly. +3. Poison Gland of Spider (much magnified). +4. Spider and Bee Fighting.] + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 38._) + + +Thoughts of the ill-favoured tramp had once or twice come into my head +while I ate my eggs and bacon, but, perhaps as one result of the meal, I +felt very little doubt that he had by this time got some distance ahead, +while the rest which I had determined to take would allow him to leave +me still further behind. On coming into the street again, however, I +took the precaution to look to the right and left, and rejoiced to see +no sign of the man. The houses of Broughton soon grew farther and +farther apart, but I had to walk a mile or more without seeing any +tempting resting-place. The sun was very hot, and my legs were beginning +to ache, when, at the foot of a slight hill, I saw that the road was +edged on each side by a thick wood, whose shade looked particularly +inviting. As soon as I reached the shade, I found that I was not alone, +for sitting in the road were two men wearing wire spectacles and +breaking stones with a hammer. They paid not the slightest attention to +me, while, for my part, I felt rather glad of their presence. The shade +made the spot seem more lonely than the road I had as yet traversed, so +that I stepped into the wood on my right with a pleasant feeling of +security. A few yards from the road I lay down at the foot of a large +beech-tree, and resting my head on my bag, after listening for a few +minutes to the ring of the hammers in the road, I must have fallen +asleep. On reopening my eyes I instinctively felt for my watch, and when +I realised that I should never see it again, it seemed that I had lost a +familiar friend. The sun now shone lower in the sky, and it must in any +case be time that I continued my journey. + +Throwing the bag over my shoulder, I walked towards the road, when what +was my dismay to see the tramp, who I imagined had long left me behind, +seated by the roadside, smoking a very short, black pipe and gazing +silently at the stone-breakers. Although he took no notice of my +presence, I now began to wonder whether he had deliberately followed me +from Broughton, or whether his presence in this shady part of the road +was merely a chance coincidence. It was quite possible that he had +hidden himself while I was in the coffee-shop, watched me from its door, +and set forth in my wake. If this were the case, his purpose seemed +scarcely doubtful, for he had certainly seen me receive the money for my +watch and chain. + +[Illustration: "His left hand gripped the collar of my jacket."] + +Still, it was not possible to stay where I was all day, so reluctantly +turning my back on the stone-breakers, I walked on, trying to hope that, +after all, the tramp might be perfectly harmless in spite of his evil +appearance. Though strongly tempted to look behind and ascertain whether +he was following or not, I warned myself that it would be wiser to +appear to take no notice, till, at last, when the stone-breakers must +have been half a mile to the rear, I looked back, and saw, to my horror, +that the tramp was still dogging my steps. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Half panic-stricken for the moment, I quickened my pace; but when I +looked behind again ten minutes later, it appeared that the tramp had +lessened the distance between us. + +It now began to seem like a nightmare. There was no prospect of getting +away from my pursuer. If I hastened, he walked faster, and I no longer +felt the least doubt that his intention was to rob me. Although the road +was little frequented, it was by no means deserted. An occasional +bicyclist would pass, or a waggon, or a dog-cart, while here and there +stood farm-houses and cottages by the way-side. + +I believed that the tramp would dog my steps until dark, and that in the +meantime he would not allow me out of his sight. Yet, until the present, +I had no actual cause for complaint, and when I met a policeman, there +seemed no excuse for referring to the tramp's existence. Feeling bound +to speak to the policeman, however, I stopped to inquire the time, and +he eyed me curiously as he took out his watch. My clothes were by this +time covered with dust, and no doubt I appeared a disreputable figure. + +'Five past five,' said the policeman. I must have slept in the wood +longer than I had thought. + +'Thank you,' I answered, and he passed on, greatly to my regret. + +The finger-posts told me that a place named Polehampton lay ahead, but I +would not inquire the distance, and so tell the policeman that I did not +know much about my destination. But when I fancied he must be close to +the tramp, I looked back, just in time to see them exchange a nod in +passing. + +Every time I looked behind after this, my pursuer appeared to be gaining, +although he took care not to overtake me. He could easily have done so +had he wished, because I was becoming extremely tired, the more, no +doubt, because of the fear which oppressed me. As this gained strength, +I did the worst thing possible--playing, as it were, into the tramp's +hands if his purpose was what I suspected. But this walk along the +straight, open road as evening fell became gradually more and more +unbearable. I even began to ask myself whether it could be actually a +nightmare, and I should presently awake to find myself in bed at Ascot +House, scarcely knowing which would be preferable. + +Seeing a stile leading to a field-path on my right, I suddenly determined +to climb over it, and though I had no notion whither it lead, to take to +my heels, regardless of everything but the chance of leaving the tramp +behind. In a second I was over, and, doubling my fists, began to run. +There were some cattle in the field, and the path appeared to end at +another stile, beyond which was a plantation of chestnut-trees. To the +left, beyond a hedge, lay a large plot of waste ground; to the right, a +dense wood, where I could hear some pigeons cooing. + +I did not stay to look back until I reached the farther stile, a good +deal out of breath, and then, to my intense relief, I saw nobody in the +path. I persuaded myself that the tramp must have reached the first +stile before now, and that, as there was no sign of him, he had gone on +his way. Perhaps, I thought, as I climbed over the second stile, I had +wronged the man after all, and had simply been the prey of my own +timidity. Resting on the top of the stile a moment, I began to look +around. In front was a narrow path through the chestnut plantation, and +it must lead somewhere, though I knew not where. But I determined to +follow it, thus making a slight divergence from the main road, and +finding a way back to it to-morrow. Meantime, I might come to a village, +where it would be possible to obtain some supper and a bed. So, +rejoicing to have shaken off my nightmare, I sprang to the ground on the +other side of the stile, when immediately I felt a hand on my collar, +and saw the dark eyes of the tramp once more peering into my own. + +He had, of course, dived into the wood when he saw me climb over the +first stile, and, cutting off the corner, had been coolly awaiting my +arrival. On the whole, I think that being in his grasp was almost +preferable to the feeling that he was dogging my steps. His left hand +gripped the collar of my jacket and flannel shirt, and instantly I began +to wriggle, twisting my leg about his own in an attempt to bring him to +the ground; but the man was of enormous strength, and, freeing himself, +he shook me as a terrier shakes a rat, until I felt there was little +breath left in my body. + +Yet I did not give in without another struggle. I knew that he would +take every penny I possessed, and that there was nothing else on which +to raise any money. I was still nearly ninety miles from London, and +already ready for another meal. I butted my head into his stomach, I +struck out madly with my fists, I writhed and kicked, until, raising his +right arm, he brought down his fist on my head, and after that I knew +nothing for some time. + +When I regained consciousness, I lay in the plantation about two yards +from the path, just where I had been flung, I suppose. My head and body +seemed to ache all over, but, on attempting to rise to my feet, I found +no difficulty, beyond a slight giddiness. My bag had disappeared, my +knickerbocker pocket, which had contained my total capital of fourteen +shillings and eightpence, was sticking out empty, and, of course, there +was no sign of the tramp. Walking to the stile, I found that my left +ankle pained me, although not very severely; I could also see in the +lessening light that my clothes were considerably torn. + +So hopeless appeared the outlook that I confess I rested my arms on the +top of the stile, buried my face on them and sobbed, until the +increasing darkness warned me that crying would not provide a bed for +the night. A bed for the night! But how could I obtain a bed without +money? Still, it was not practicable to remain where I was, while I +thought it would be better to take my chance through the plantation than +to return to the road, where I might even meet the tramp again. +Certainly, whichever direction I followed, I had no wish to walk very +far. I had never felt quite so worn out in my life, as I continued my +way through the plantation and a field beyond, the gate of which opened +into a pleasant country lane. Here I turned to the right, as the main +road lay to the left, and I had not walked many yards before I reached a +pretty farm-house, standing well back, with a barn on its left, in which +some cows were lowing. The sky was by this time of a dark blue, and one +small star twinkled. I could not help looking rather longingly at the +cosy house, and, while I looked, a lamp was carried into one of the +front rooms and a red blind was drawn down. However, it was no use +lingering there, so I walked on beside a hedge, fragrant with +honeysuckle, past one or two fields, until I came to a black gate with +something shadowy behind it. Stopping by the gate, I saw that the object +in the field was part of a haystack, one side being cut into a kind of +terrace. Four black calves came to the gate, but they turned tail and +trotted away again as I put my leg over the top rail, for I at once made +up my mind that there would be no better place to sleep than the +haystack. The night was fine and hot, and my body ached to such a degree +that I felt I could sleep anywhere. + +(_Continued on page 54._) + + + + +TAKE CARE OF THE DAYS. + + + The little days come, one by one, + And smile into our face; + Each hath its dawn and set of sun, + Each hath its little place. + + Then scorn them not, but use them well, + Treat each one as a friend; + Neglect them not! We cannot tell + How soon our days may end. + + Heed not the years! Make _every day_ + With love and labour fair; + The years, then, as they roll away, + Will need no further care. + +E. D. + + + + +THE CAPTAIN'S TURN FIRST. + + +The captain of a merchant ship, on being appointed to a new vessel, +heard that his crew had a very bad name for the use of oaths. He +determined to put an end to bad language on his ship, and, knowing how +hard it would be to do so by the mere exercise of authority, thought of +a novel plan which was entirely successful. He summoned the men and +addressed them thus: + +'I want to ask you all a favour, and I know that British sailors will +hardly refuse a favour to their new captain. It is my duty to take the +lead in everything, and especially in one thing. Now, will you grant me +my favour?' + +'Aye, aye, sir,' said the men, not knowing what he would ask. + +'It is this, then. I want to take the lead in swearing, and to use the +first oath on board this ship, before any of you begin to swear.' + +The men were at first surprised at the strange request, but they soon +recovered and gave the captain a rousing cheer. Needless to say, the +captain's oath was never uttered, and so the men had no excuse for +swearing. + + + + +SAVED BY TWENTY GUINEAS. + + +Thanks to his quickness of brain and fleetness of foot, M. de B----, a +French Royalist officer, was able to use a well-known device and so +effect an escape from imminent death. + +On a certain memorable morning, sixty-nine brave soldiers were executed +by the Republicans. The story of these deaths, and of one remarkable +escape, is related by a fellow-prisoner who witnessed the scene. + +At nine o'clock in the morning the prisoners were startled by the +entrance of a Republican officer, who held a piece of paper in his hand, +and was attended by an escort of about twenty soldiers. As he came in he +announced: + +'Citizens! you are to accompany me. Those whose names I shall call will +not return to this place. As I read out the roll, let each one named +range himself on the right-hand side.' + +The men obeyed this order in silence; no one knew what it meant, and all +feared the worst. Only two names were excepted from the roll; the other +prisoners, seventy in number, stood in line, awaiting their unknown +fate. + +'The word was given to march,' says the narrator, 'and the whole +seventy-two of us, guarded by a large number of Republican soldiers, +filed out from the gloomy gaol. We were taken to the seashore, where a +halt was made; then the officer in charge read the death-sentence, +adding, as he turned to us--the two whose names were excepted from the +fatal list--these words: + +'"These others will not be sentenced until further evidence has been +heard, but they will be present at the execution of those condemned." + +'The unhappy men were then and there shot, one by one. This work of +horror went on for an hour, and we, whose time had not yet come, were +forced to stand by, fully expecting that the same fate would shortly be +our own. + +'Sixty-nine had fallen, and at last came the turn of De B----. The four +men told off to shoot him said, "We are extremely sorry to do this, but +it is the law, and we cannot help ourselves; and now, if you have any +money about you, please bestow it upon us." + +'A happy thought flashed through the Royalist's brain. "I have twenty +guineas," he replied calmly, "but I do not desire to cause any jealousy +amongst you. I will therefore fling down the coins, and let each one get +what he can." + +'With a dexterous movement of his hand he sent the golden coins spinning +in all directions. The soldiers, in their greedy eagerness, forgot the +prisoner for a moment, and scrambled for the money; this was what M. de +B---- had reckoned on. As he was an excellent runner, taking to his +heels, he promptly fled, got safely away, and was never recaptured.' + +[Illustration: "The soldiers forgot the prisoner, and scrambled for the +money."] + +[Illustration: "'Fight against my country! Not for the ransom of a +king!'"] + + + + +THE ADMIRAL AND THE FISHERMAN. + + +M. de Tourville, a French Admiral who lived in the beginning of King +William the Third's reign, proposed to make a descent on the English +coast, and, as his intention was to land somewhere in Sussex, he sent +for a fisherman, a native of that county, who had been taken prisoner by +one of his ships, in hopes of obtaining some useful information +concerning the state of the Government. He asked the fisherman to whom +his countrymen were most attached, to King James or to the Prince of +Orange, styled King William. + +The poor man, confounded by these questions, made the Admiral this +reply: 'I have never heard of the gentlemen you mention; they may be +very good lords for anything I know; they never did me any harm, and so +God bless them both. As for the Government, how should I know anything +about it, since I can neither read nor write? All I have to do is to +take care of my boat and my nets, and sell my fish.' + +'Then, since you are indifferent to both parties,' said the Admiral, +'and are a good mariner, you can have no objection to serve on board my +ship.' + +'I fight against my country!' answered the fisherman, with great vigour. +'No, not for the ransom of a king!' + +W. Y. + + + + +GOOD-NIGHT, GOOD-DAY! + + + We got up to welcome the swallows + This morning as soon as the sun; + Then over the hills and the hollows + We went for a beautiful run. + The daisies were ready to meet us-- + All over the meadows they grew; + But now we must say: + 'Good-night, O good-day! + We've been very happy with you.' + + We sang with the busy bees humming + O'er blossoms too bright to forget, + And when the soft breezes were coming + We saw the grass bow as they met. + Oh, may all the hearts that have known you + Now beat with a pleasure like ours, + And cheerfully say: + 'Good-night, O good-day! + And thank you for sunshine and flowers.' + +JOHN LEA. + + + + +WHALEBONE. + + +Many thrilling stories have been written about the dangers of +whale-fishing. The perils and hardships of whaling expeditions are +braved in order that we may be supplied principally with two +things--whale-oil and whalebone. If you can learn what whalebone is, and +what is its use, you will know a good deal about the habits of the whale +itself. + +The substance which we call whalebone is not true bone. It would be much +more correct to call it whales' teeth, as it occupies the same position +as teeth, and, in a measure, serves the same purpose. Moreover, the +whale has a skeleton of true bones underlying its flesh, and serving as +a framework for its huge, bulky body. These bones are very light and +porous, and this is a great advantage to the whale, which spends most of +its time floating upon the surface of the water without having to make +much effort. + +There are numerous kinds of whales, and they do not all yield the +substance which we call whalebone. The sperm whale, or cachalot, has +teeth in its lower jaw, and no whalebone whatever. The Greenland whale, +on the other hand, which is the one most sought after for its oil, has +no teeth, but abundance of whalebone, which hangs from the sides of its +upper jaw. + +In order to get some idea of what this whalebone is like as it hangs in +the whale's mouth, we must try to picture what the whale itself is like. +The largest of them grow to something like sixty feet in length. The +head is unusually large, and forms about one-third of the whole body, +and the inside of the mouth is about as large as a ship's cabin or a +very small room. The strips of whalebone, which reach from the upper jaw +to the lower one, must, therefore, be very large. The largest strips, +which hang in the middle of the jaws, are rather like large planks, +being from ten to fifteen feet long, and about twelve inches across at +their widest part. They are thinner than planks, however, and perhaps we +might better compare them to long and broad saw-blades. There are +altogether about three hundred of these whalebone planks or blades in +the whale's mouth. They are set transversely--that is to say, one narrow +edge of each piece touches the tongue, while the other edge lies against +the cheek or lip. They lie so close together that from the middle of the +edge of one blade to the middle of the edge of the next the distance is +less than an inch, and yet there is a space between them. The whole set +extends like a huge grate round the whale's mouth, the bars of whalebone +being long in the middle of the sides of the jaws, and growing shorter +near the back and front. + +Whalebone is very fibrous or stringy, and it splits very readily. The +lower ends of the pieces in the whale's mouth are split and frayed into +stiff bristles, and the inner edges are frayed in the same way, while +the outer edges are made smooth, so that they do not hurt the inside of +the animal's lips. The roof of the whale's mouth is covered with smaller +pieces of whalebone hanging down like bristled quills. Many of these are +only a few inches long, but they make the whole of the upper part of the +whale's mouth rough and bristly. + +The creature's tongue is an enormous one, often measuring six yards long +and three yards wide. Its throat, however, is so small that sailors +often say a herring would choke it. What can be the use of such a large +mouth and tongue, and such large bars of whalebone to a creature which +has so small a throat? + +On the surface of the Arctic Sea, where the whale lives, there are +swarms of living creatures. Some of these are jelly-fish, like those +which are often left upon the sea-shore when the tide goes out. But one +of the commonest of these lowly animals is a little soft-bodied +creature about an inch and a half long, which moves along through the +water with the help of two organs like wings or paddles. It is called +the _Clio borealis_, and it is very rarely seen near the shore. It is +upon these creatures that the whale feeds. Opening its mouth wide, it +rushes through the sea, and takes in a crowd of these soft-bodied +animals, along with the water in which they are swimming. Closing its +mouth, it drives out the water through its plates of whalebone, and the +little creatures are caught in the bristles as in a net. Its great +tongue is lifted up, and crushes them all into soft pulp, which is +easily swallowed, even down the whale's small throat. + +Thus every part of the whale's mouth is altered to suit its strange mode +of feeding. The hard teeth, which would be of no use for biting small +pulpy animals, are done away with, and a new growth of whalebone +appears, which is of the utmost service in catching the whale its food. + +Whalebone has been used for many purposes. It is split up into little +pieces, and used for light frameworks, which are required to be stiff, +but, at the same time, elastic. It used to be used for the ribs of +umbrellas and for ladies' hoops. It was also split very small and used +for the bristles of brushes. But it is now becoming scarce, and other +substances are generally used in its place. + +W. A. ATKINSON. + + + + +SAVED BY THE ENEMY. + + +The following story of the Crimean War, told by the Russian author, +Turgenieff, is well authenticated. + +A young Russian Lieutenant, named Sergius Ivanovitch, was one cold night +with an attacking party whose object was to drive a body of French +soldiers from their position in front of the Russian lines. Wishing to +be as free from hindrances as possible, this young lieutenant did not +take his military cloak. + +The French proved to be well posted on the edge of a wood. At the end of +a desperate fight, the Russians were forced to retreat, leaving behind +them their dead and wounded. Among the latter was Sergius Ivanovitch. + +How he now longed for his cloak! He suffered even more from the cold +than from his wound. Although a bullet was in his leg, he knew that the +exposure, rather than the wound, would be the death of him. With many a +shiver and groan, he was trying to examine his leg, when he heard some +one say in French: + +'You had better leave it alone. Be patient, and disturb your wound as +little as possible.' + +The man who thus spoke was a veteran French captain, who lay close by, +more severely injured than Sergius. + +'You are right, no doubt,' said the Russian; 'but I shall die of cold +before morning.' + +Then the Frenchman blamed him for coming out in the snow without his +cloak. 'I have learned by experience,' said he, 'never to go out without +mine. This time, however, it will not save me, for I am mortally +wounded.' + +'Your people will fetch you presently.' + +'No, my dear enemy, I shall not last until help arrives. It is all over +with me, for the shot has gone deep. Here! take my cloak. Wrap yourself +up in it and sleep. One can sleep anywhere at your age.' + +The young Russian protested in vain. He felt the cloak laid upon him, +and its warmth sent him to sleep. + +When he awoke in the morning, the French captain lay dead at his side. +The Russian never forgot this generous act of one whom the policy of his +nation had made his enemy. + +E. D. + + + + +WONDERFUL CAVERNS. + +II.--FINGAL'S CAVE, STAFFA. + + +While we shall have to consider some of the most wonderful caverns of +other lands, we must not forget that Great Britain can boast of perhaps +the most beautiful cave in the world. As we are a nation of sailors, it +seems fitting that our marvellous cavern should rise directly from the +sea, and that its pavement should be the mighty ocean. It is claimed as +the most beautiful because it has the advantage of light to exhibit its +wonders, as well as the endless variety of the dancing waves to +illuminate its dark pillars with a never-ending flash of gems, as the +waters dash against its walls in storms, or lap lovingly round them in +the summer sunlight. + +Fingal's Cave is one of many fringing the cliffs of the little island of +Staffa, off the coast of Mull, in Scotland. These caves are all formed +of what learned people call basalt, which means rocks moulded by the +action of fire. Basalt contains a good deal of an opaque glassy +substance, and its colour may be pale blue, dark blue, grey, brown, or +black. This rock has a special faculty for building columns with +(usually) six sides, but the form varies as much as the colour. These +pillars are divided at fairly equal distances into lengths, just as +stone pillars in a cathedral are generally built, and, wonderful to say, +the joints, when closely examined, are found to be of the cup-and-ball +pattern, on which our own bones are put into their sockets. + +Basalt is usually hard and tough, and it is supposed, though with no +certainty, that the regularity of the columns is the result of the +contraction of the rock in cooling after undergoing great heat. + +The name Staffa is a Scandinavian word meaning 'Pillar Island,' and no +doubt its wonders have been known from very remote times. It is quite +near the island of Iona, one of the earliest settlements of the +Christian missionaries from Ireland. + +[Illustration: Fingal's Cave Staffa.] + +A little distance from the shore is the tiny island of Bouchallie, or +the Herdsman, which is entirely composed of basaltic rocks of great +beauty; and from this islet a colonnade of pillars leads to the entrance +of Fingal's Cave. The mouth of the cave is forty-two feet wide, the roof +is fifty-six feet above, and the length of the cavern is two hundred and +twenty-seven feet. + +All down the sides pillars line the walls, and from above hang the ends +of pendant columns. Below is the clear blue water, where even at low +tide there is a depth of eighteen feet. + +Sir Walter Scott was so impressed with this marvel of Nature, that he +wrote: + + 'Where, as to shame the temples decked + By skill of earthly architect, + Nature herself it seemed would raise + A Minster to her Maker's praise.' + +Certainly no service that human tongues could utter could surpass in +impressiveness the strains raised to the glory of the Creator by the +waves as they enter this temple of His own building, and toss aloft +their offerings of glistening water and snowy foam. + +Fingal, the hero from whom the cave takes its name, was a mighty man of +renown in the legendary days of both Scotland and Ireland. He figures in +the poems of Ossian, as well as in Gaelic ballads as Fion or Fion na +Gael, and no other lore has ever been so dear to the peasants of these +countries as the record of the marvellous deeds of Fingal. + +Another remarkable cave in Staffa is 'Clam-shell Cave,' which is of +immense size. It is really a huge fissure in the cliff, of which one +side is wonderfully like the ribs of a ship or the markings on a +clam-shell. This appearance is the result of immense pillars of basalt +crossing the rock in even lines. + +A rough iron stairway has been put up the cliff to enable visitors to +look into the cave from above. + +The 'Boat Cave' is smaller than that of Fingal, but the basaltic +formation is even more regular: this cavern runs for one hundred and +fifty feet, and is about twelve feet broad. + +Indeed the whole coast of Staffa is studded with caves, into some of +which a boat can enter when the water is smooth, but this is not of very +frequent occurrence on this storm-beaten coast. + +HELENA HEATH. + +[Illustration: The Teal.] + + + + +THE TEAL. + + +What is the Teal? It is a bird once plentiful in many parts of Britain +from which it has now vanished, owing to the draining of marshes and the +cultivation of coast-lands, for it loves watery places. Being a notable +species of the duck tribe, it is a prize to the hunter of wild-fowl. Not +only is the bird thought a delicacy, but when the hunter comes upon a +party of them he can generally manage to secure several. It is a shy +bird, avoiding the abodes of mankind and large ponds or rivers. What it +likes is a still, rushy pool, or some sluggish brook overhung with +vegetation. About the South of England it is seldom observed except in +winter; occasionally it keeps company with other wild ducks when the +weather is severe. Should one of them be alarmed by the approach of a +possible enemy, while it is on a brook, it usually flies up and skims +just above the water for some distance, when it will quietly settle near +the bank, or it may drop into the water and swim away rapidly. + +In their appearance the male and female birds are very different. The +male teal is particularly handsome; the head is chestnut brown, having a +glossy patch on each side; the neck and back are black, pencilled with +grey; the wings exhibit a green spot, set in velvety black, and +underneath, the colours are black and buff. But his female companion has +no bright tints; she is attired in dull black and grey, which is an +advantage to her, helping to her concealment at the period of nesting. +About July the old teals moult, and, losing for a time their quill +feathers, they are unable to fly, though able to walk and swim. Thus +deprived of their fine feathers, the male birds are less handsome, and +resemble the females till spring comes. Often in September and October +teals assemble to migrate, flocks of them flying hundreds of miles to +some winter resort, which they quit when the wonderful instinct given +them by Providence tells them to journey elsewhere to make their nests. + +Teals do not like to place the nest flat on the earth, and it is +generally put on the ground rather above the marshes or streamlets, a +hollow being scraped under a small bush. One or other of the parents +lines the nest, perhaps with heather, or perhaps with fragments of +grass. Eight, nine, or ten creamy-white eggs are laid, and then the +hen-bird plucks from her body the soft down underlying the feathers, +which is put round the eggs, making a soft bed for the young when +hatched. They soon swim and run well, following their mother about as +she goes insect-hunting. + +J. R. S. C. + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 47._) + + +The haystack seemed to be cut exactly for my purpose, and, mounting step +by step, I found a terrace more than sufficiently large to allow me to +lie at full length. The scent was warm and sweet, and when I had said my +prayers, I lay staring up at the sky, watching as the stars came out one +by one. For a while, sleep would not visit me, although my head went +round and round, as it were, and I seemed to be conscious of nothing but +the tramp pursuing me along the white, dusty road. Yet I must have +fallen asleep before long, because I was suddenly awakened by the +barking of a dog. + +'Heel, Tiger,' said a man's voice. 'Good dog, heel!' I still heard the +dog growl in a painfully threatening manner, then the man's voice again. +It was a somewhat rough voice, yet with a kindly note in it. 'Now,' it +said, 'whoever you are, I advise you to show yourself. I don't want to +hurt you, but if you don't show up in another minute, I shall set my dog +on to you.' + +As it was, I felt in mortal dread lest Tiger should spring at me during +my descent; still, I rose to my feet, feeling still a little giddy and +confused, climbed down to the foot of the haystack, and walked a little +timidly towards the gate, where I could distinctly see the tall, +stoutly-built figure of a middle-aged man in the light of the rising +moon. + +'What were you doing there?' he demanded. + +'I was only asleep,' I answered. + +'Think my hayrick is a proper place to sleep on?' + +'I had nowhere else,' I cried. + +'Well,' he said, 'come along with me, and we will have a better look at +you.' + +As I walked by his side, with Tiger, a large retriever, sniffing +suspiciously at my heels, I realised that we were going in the direction +of the cosy-looking farm-house. The possibility of being offered a +comfortable bed, with a chance of taking off my clothes, and of +something to eat, seemed delightful, and, before we came within sight of +the red blind again, I had lost all fear of my companion, although he +had not opened his lips during our short walk. + +He came to a standstill in front of a five-barred gate beyond the barn, +in which I could hear the cows chewing. 'Now, then,' he said, and, +without any second bidding, I entered the farmyard. 'This way,' he +continued, and the next minute he was tapping the door of the house with +his stick. It was opened by a short woman, who wore a white apron over a +dark dress, and had one of the ugliest and pleasantest faces I have ever +seen. + +'Who is that?' she asked, stepping back in surprise on seeing that the +farmer was not alone. + +'I went to see if the calves were all right,' was the answer, 'and the +youngster was asleep on the rick. Tiger found him out--didn't you, +Tiger?' + +'Well,' said the woman, 'he looks as if something to eat would do him +good, anyhow.' + +'Take him to the kitchen, Eliza,' cried the farmer, and, opening a door +to the left of the passage, she bade me enter and sit down; whereupon I +suppose I must have again fallen asleep, for I was conscious of nothing +farther until I opened my eyes, and saw Eliza in the act of placing a +tray on the deal table; on the tray I rejoiced to see a large pork chop, +a cup of hot cocoa, and a thick slice of bread. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +My spirits seemed to rise with every mouthful of food, and I felt that I +had at last reached a haven after all the unfortunate turmoils of this +first day. Although the evening was hot, the kitchen fire seemed only to +add to the sense of comfort, and although there were no looking-glasses, +there were many things so bright that I could easily have seen my face +in them. + +Eliza, who was Mr. Baker's housekeeper, watched me with evident +enjoyment, and before the plate was empty she rose to replenish it. I +felt thankful that Providence had guided me to Mr. Baker's door, and +devoutly hoped that I should not be turned away that night. I realised +instinctively that these were the sort of people who would not turn a +dog from their door if he needed succour, and by the time I had finished +my meat, and had begun to eat a large portion of apple tart with a great +many cloves in it, it appeared certain that there was shelter for one +night, at least. At last I finished the last piece of thick and rather +heavy piecrust, and sat waiting to see what would happen next. + +'Now,' said Eliza, 'I should think the next thing ought to be to clean +yourself.' + +'I should like it immensely,' I answered. + +So she led me to a wash-house behind the kitchen, and brought a large +bowl of enamelled iron, filling it with very hot water. A cake of yellow +soap and a jack-towel were provided, and taking off my jacket and +waistcoat, I enjoyed a thoroughly good wash. + +'Let me see what I can do with those,' said Eliza, taking my jacket and +waistcoat, and when she brought them back as I dried my hands they +certainly looked a little less dusty. She lent me a hard brush to brush +my knickerbockers, stockings, and boots, and although there were several +rents in my jacket, I began to feel something like a respectable member +of society again. + +'Now,' cried Eliza, regarding me with evident approval, 'suppose you +come and see Mr. Baker.' + +She led me to the room where I had seen her, earlier in the evening, +draw down the red blind, and he was seated in an arm-chair with a wooden +pipe in his mouth. + +'Sit down,' he said, and nothing loth, for my legs still ached +painfully, I took a chair by the door. 'Now,' he continued, 'how did you +get yourself into such a state, and how is it you are wandering about +the country alone?' + +'I ran away,' I answered, and Mr. Baker looked towards the door, which +Eliza had left half open. + +'Eliza,' he exclaimed with a kind of chuckle, which seemed to confirm +the assurance that I had found a sympathetic listener--'Eliza,' he +shouted, 'the youngster's run away.' + +'Has he, though?' said Eliza, coming to the threshold, where she +remained standing. + +'From school?' he asked, and sliding down farther into his chair, +evidently prepared to enjoy my story, while Eliza stood in the doorway +with her arms folded. I told it from the beginning. Every now and then +Eliza would interrupt with an expression of sympathy, and Mr. Baker +slapped his knee when I told him how I had thrown the hair-brush at +Augustus. When I came to the end, having described the day's adventures, +the sale of my watch and chain, with the theft of the fifteen shillings +by the tramp, Mr. Baker shook his head, and looked into Eliza's +pleasant, plain face. + +'Now,' he said, 'the question is what's to be done with the youngster?' + +'Supposing you got to London,' she suggested, turning to me, 'what did +you think of doing?' + +'I know I could do something,' I answered confidently. + +'Still,' said Mr. Baker, 'you have not done much good for yourself +to-day now, have you?' + +'No,' I was compelled to admit, 'not to-day.' + +'And you have no money left?' cried Eliza. + +'When I get to London I am going to find some work to do,' I assured +her; but she shook her head, and smiled a little sadly. + +'Come to think of it,' said Mr. Baker, 'this Turton is about your only +friend.' + +'I don't call him a friend,' I answered. + +'Anyhow,' exclaimed Eliza, 'it is too late to do anything to-night.' + +'I suppose you can make the boy up a bed somewhere?' said Mr. Baker. + +'If you ask my opinion,' she replied, 'the sooner he's inside it the +better.' + +'Yes; and directly after breakfast to-morrow morning,' he said, 'I shall +drive the youngster back to Castlemore.' + +'Not to Mr. Turton's!' I cried. + +'What else do you think I can do with you?' he asked, as Eliza went away +to prepare my bed. + +'I would sooner do anything--anything,' I said, 'than go back.' + +'I dare say you would,' he answered. 'Only you see there is nothing else +to be done. I can't say I believe in boys running away, but still you +seem to have been badly treated, and if you had a home, I don't say that +in the circumstances I would not see you to it safe and sound. But you +have not; and the consequence is that it is my duty to take you back. +And,' he added, solemnly, 'however severely he treats you it won't be +half so bad as what you would meet with if I let you go your own way.' + +I could find nothing to answer. With all his kindness, Mr. Baker seemed +to mean what he said, and I realised that a remonstrance would be only +waste of words. Besides, I am afraid I was become cunning in my efforts +at self-preservation, and if I said nothing, I certainly thought the +more. My sleepiness seemed to have left me, and all my wits were at +work. If I could prevent him, I determined that Mr. Baker should not +take me back to Ascot House, although as yet I had not the remotest +notion how to hinder his purpose. + +One thing appeared certain. He was only to be defeated by strategy, and +not by force. As I looked at his large fist resting on his arm-chair, I +knew that if I attempted to resist I should be as powerless in his arms +as I had been in those of the tramp. Presently Eliza re-entered the room +to say the bed was ready, and when I arose Mr. Baker held out his arm to +shake hands, causing me to feel not a little shamefaced. My friend +seemed to have become an enemy. He had treated me kindly, and, indeed, +still intended to do what he considered best for me, while my chief aim +was to oppose him. But to have said right out that I would not go back +to Castlemore would have defeated my own ends, so that I put my hand in +his, received a cordial shake, and then followed Eliza upstairs. She +carried a candle, which she set down on the washing-stand, and I saw +that I was in a small room, extremely cool and clean, with one window, +in front of which stood a muslin-covered dressing-table. + +'Now tumble in quick,' she cried, 'and I will come to take the candle.' + +(_Continued on page 58._) + +[Illustration: "I felt in mortal dread lest Tiger should spring at me +during my descent."] + +[Illustration: "The other passengers thought him mad."] + + + + +A NOVEL RAIN PROTECTOR. + + +One day, some years ago, a number of people were travelling in Ireland +by coach. The day turned wet, and threatened to continue so till night. +The moment the coach stopped, one of the outside passengers, who was +without an umbrella, rushed into an ironmonger's shop and came out with +a grid-iron in his hand. All the other outside passengers thought he was +mad, but he wrapped himself in a large cloak, which covered his cap and +most of his face and came down to his feet, and seated himself on his +gridiron in the middle of his seat. In a couple of hours it was seen +what he meant. + +While the other passengers were sitting in pools of water from the +dripping of the umbrellas, he was sitting high and dry above the seat on +his gridiron; all the water ran under it, and when they got to their +destination, the man on the gridiron was as dry as a bone, whilst the +other outside passengers were soaked to the skin. + +W. YARWOOD. + + + + +PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS. + +3.--PIED CITIES. + + 1. S, B, T, U, R, C, A, E, H. + 2. N, O, U, E, R. + 3. R, W, I, B, N, S, U, K, C. + 4. E, T, U, A, B, S, P, D. + 5. G, I, N, T, O, A, S, A. + 6. C, O, F, A, S, S, A, N, N, C, I, R. + 7. N, A, B, S, E, E, R. + 8. G, U, P, E, R, A. + 9. A, P, A, S, O, V, L, R, A, I. +10. T, E, N, S, A, N. + +C. J. B. + + +4.--GEOGRAPHICAL ENIGMA. + + To gently walk, to move with ease; + An edge, or margin, if you please: + Combine the two, and you will find + The home of persons great in mind. + A spot of northern English ground + Near which a mighty poet found + A still retreat: a teacher sage, + And lady honoured in her age, + Were dwellers in this district too, + And all its wondrous beauties knew. + +C. J. B. + +[_Answers on page 98._] + + + + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON PAGE 30. + + +1.--_Honduras._ + +1. Hymettus. +2. Otranto. +3. Newlyn. +4. Donnybrook. +5. Ujiji. +6. Roanoke. +7. Assam. +8. Shanghai. + + +2.--_Hiawatha._ + +1. Taw. +2. Haw. +3. Hat. +4. Whit. +5. Thaw. +6. Haha. +7. What. +8. Wit. + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 55._) + + +I hurried out of my clothes as soon as Eliza had closed my bedroom door, +although I did not turn into the inviting bed until I had bathed my +feet, which were already slightly blistered. Then I lay down, having a +difficult task to keep my eyes open until she came to take away the +candle. To my surprise, Eliza bent over the pillow and kissed my +forehead, thus making me feel more guilty than ever. It seemed a poor +way to repay the kindness I had met with at her hands and Mr. Baker's, +to run away during the night, although unless I did this it appeared +certain that I should be taken back to Turton's the first thing after +breakfast the next morning. Concerning such a calamity I felt desperate, +and I believe there were few things I would not have done to secure +freedom. + +It was not that I feared any tremendous punishment, for I had never +known Mr. Turton raise his hand to a boy, and my treatment could +scarcely be worse than that which I had met with to-day. But it was the +idea of the shame and degradation of being hauled back, of the jeers of +Augustus, and his telling the other fellows on their return. Indeed, I +was incapable of reasoning; I simply felt that any fate would be +preferable to a return to Castlemore, and the only alternative seemed to +be flight for the second time. + +At present I could not tell whether even this would be practicable, +although at the best I perceived that there would be many difficulties +to overcome--Tiger not being the least. I had no idea whether Mr. Baker +gave him the run of the premises at night, although this appeared +extremely probable, or whether he was on the chain, and, if so, where. +Whatever I did must be under cover of darkness, and the nights were +short at this season. I knew that a farmer's household would be early +risers, and that in fact there was little time to spare. + +As I lay in bed, I could hear voices downstairs, and guessed that my own +affairs were under discussion. I remembered a tale I had read of some +travellers who were lost on a mountain, and in spite of their terrible +weariness, feared to lie down in the snow, knowing that if they once +fell asleep they would never again awaken in this world. My case seemed +rather like theirs, although I lay in a comfortable feather bed. How +delightful it was, how cool and fresh the linen sheets, how willingly I +could have closed my tired eyes and fallen asleep! But in that case I +feared that I should be lost. I certainly could not feel sure of waking +before daylight; indeed, I felt I could sleep for a week, whereas, long +before dawn, I had to put a considerable distance between myself and Mr. +Baker's farm. + +Afraid of closing my eyes in spite of myself, I sat up in bed, anxiously +waiting for the voices to cease, for until it became safe to open my +window, and ascertain what was underneath it, I could not tell even +whether escape were possible. The window was the only hope! The house +was so small that I could not imagine myself opening the door, going +downstairs, and finding a way out without disturbing its inmates. If the +window was not too high, and the ground was fairly clear beneath it, I +might be able to get away, but otherwise there seemed no alternative to +an ignominious return to Castlemore to-morrow morning. + +At last the voices became silent. I heard a key turned and bolts shot +home into their sockets, heavy footsteps on the stairs, the shutting of +first one door, then of another, followed by total silence. Getting out +of bed about a quarter of an hour later, I walked about the room, and +going to the washstand, sluiced my face in the basin to make myself more +wakeful. Again I sat on the bed for what seemed a long time, until a +clock downstairs struck the hour of midnight. Now, I thought, Mr. Baker +and Eliza must be asleep, and groping for my clothes, I began to dress +with all possible speed. As I rose from lacing my boots I trod on a +loose board, which creaked so loudly that I felt certain it must be +heard throughout the house. Lest any one should be aroused, I got +quickly into bed again, dressed as I was, but although I lay there some +time I heard no sound. Creeping cautiously across the room, I moved the +dressing-table, and then, with the utmost care, drew up the green cotton +blind. The moon shone brightly, almost at the full, but this might be +either an advantage or a drawback. At least, it served to show my +surroundings, and, before opening the window, I stared through the panes +for some minutes. The house consisted of only one story above the ground +floor, and the rooms were by no means lofty. My window overlooked what +was evidently a fair-sized kitchen-garden, surrounded by a low hedge, +beyond which I could see nothing but fields. + +Now, if it happened that Tiger was chained, and I could succeed in +reaching the garden, I determined to give up for the present every +thought of gaining the road to London or anywhere else. I would simply +get through the hedge at the earliest moment lest any one should detect +me in the bright moonlight, then make a straight dash across country. By +this means it promised to be far easier to avoid pursuit than if I +followed any kind of road. Being fully dressed, with the exception of a +hat, which did not seem to matter, I cautiously pushed up the lower half +of the window and leaned forward to survey the ground. Immediately below +me lay a bed about two feet wide, with flowers growing in it and one or +two standard roses. I saw that the distance would not be too great to +drop, and, anxious to lose no more time, I climbed out to the sill, +crouching there a minute with alarming thoughts of Tiger. But all was +perfectly still; one or two birds began to rustle in the leaves of the +ivy which seemed to cover the back of the house, that was all, until +turning round on the narrow sill, I heard the jangling of a chain. +Peering forth once more, however, I could see no sign of a kennel, so +that it seemed probable that Tiger was secured at the side of the house +or in the front. Placing my hands on the sill, I gradually lowered +myself until I hung by the fingers, then the next moment I dropped all +of a heap, but without making much noise, on to the bed, the only damage +being a scratch on the left cheek from a thorn on one of the standard +roses. + +Finding my feet at once, I made for the hedge, scrambling through it as +Tiger began to give tongue. Turning to the left on the other side, I ran +with all my might until I floundered into a wet ditch. Over a second +hedge I scrambled, across a meadow with sleeping cows and calves, which +rose at my approach, looking rather ghostly as they crowded together in +a bunch. I clambered over gates, floundered into other ditches, and +presently found myself entering the completer darkness of a wood, on the +other side of which came a park, then more fields, until I began to +pant, and to think that Mr. Baker's farm was sufficiently far behind for +safety. + +How long I had been running I have no idea, but the moon was fast +sinking towards the horizon, and, before it disappeared altogether, it +seemed advisable to find a place where I might secure some much-needed +sleep. In a large field I espied a wooden shelter--intended, no doubt, +for cattle--and open at one side. This being empty I entered, and was +fortunate enough to find a goodly heap of dry clover in a corner. +Spreading this out over the ground, without more ado I threw myself, +just as I was, at full length upon it, too weary to think or to do +anything but fall at once asleep. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +I must have slept for many hours in the shed, for, when I opened my +eyes, the sun was high in the sky. I think it must have been past ten +o'clock, and it took some minutes before I could succeed in determining +which of my recent experiences were real, and which the result of +dreams. Little by little I began to put together the circumstances, +which had occurred since yesterday morning, in their proper order, and +my cheeks tingled with shame as I tried to imagine the feelings of Mr. +Baker and Eliza when they discovered my flight. They had treated me with +genuine kindness, and it must appear that I had repaid them with the +basest ingratitude; while yet I cannot pretend to have repented of my +flight from the farm-house, for I knew that, in similar circumstances, I +should act in the same way. + +At first I felt tempted to lie down and go to sleep again, but this +might be to run no little risk. It was impossible to decide whether I +was still on Mr. Baker's land or not, for, although I had covered some +miles last night, there was no proof that I had run in a straight line, +and it seemed quite likely that I had described something resembling a +circle. + +So I rose and stood gazing down at my legs, which now bore no traces of +the brush which Eliza had lent me after supper. My boots were completely +coated with mud as the result of the ditches into which I had floundered +in my headlong flight, my stockings were splashed, and even my +knickerbockers were freely covered with dry mud. + +On stepping out from the shelter of the hut, the sun shining full in my +eyes reminded me that I had not put on my hat, and, entering again, I +looked about for it for a few seconds before remembering that it had, +of course, been left behind at the farm-house. + +[Illustration: "The first person I saw that morning was a young man, +mending a puncture."] + +As I crossed the field, the situation seemed peculiarly depressing, and +it was impossible not to contrast it with my circumstances at the same +hour yesterday. It was one consolation that nobody could rob me to-day, +for I had not a penny in my pocket. Every one of my limbs seemed to have +a separate ache, and although I had not been accustomed to very +luxurious fare of late, I felt a great longing for breakfast. + +Although my confidence in the good fortune awaiting me in London had +been somewhat shaken since I left Castlemore, I still determined to set +my face in that direction. Where else could I go unless I returned to +Mr. Turton? An unthinkable proposition. Making my way towards a black +five-barred gate, I rejoiced to see a lane on the other side of it, +and, without a notion of my locality, I thought it better to turn to the +left. The lane, a mere cart-track, led to a wider road, prettily +undulated, and, for half a mile or so, entirely deserted. The first +person I saw that morning (it must have been about half-past eleven) was +a young man of about three-and-twenty years of age, engaged in mending a +puncture in his bicycle-tyre. The machine was turned wheels upwards, +while he stood pressing the punctured portion of the collapsed tyre +between two pennies. From curiosity, and the desire, perhaps, to be near +some one for a few minutes, I stopped, while he chalked the patch, +stooped to replace the outer covering, and then, turning the bicycle +right way up again, took off the pump. + +(_Continued on page 69._) + +[Illustration: "One bolder than the rest stabbed it with a pitchfork."] + + + + +CRUISERS IN THE CLOUDS. + +II.--M. CHARLES AND HIS PARIS BALLOON. + + +News, like sound, travels fast; and the applause which greeted the +ascent of the Montgolfier balloon at Annonay had hardly ceased when it +seemed to reach the ears of the people in Paris, and put the whole town +in quite a flutter of excitement. Some of those who had been present at +the great experiment wrote an account of it to their friends in Paris, +who at once began to make arrangements for inviting the Montgolfiers to +send up another balloon from the capital. But these arrangements took +too long to satisfy the impatience of the people of Paris, and they were +better pleased when M. de Saint-Fond opened a subscription to pay +expenses for a separate experiment. + +No one in all France had heard of the event at Annonay with more +interest and delight than a certain M. James Alexander Caesar Charles, a +young and clever scientist who took great pleasure in showing people the +wonderful things he had discovered. When Franklin brought lightning out +of the clouds with a kite, M. Charles followed the road thus pointed out +to him, and soon found new wonders which he had a great talent for +explaining. Thus, though he might not be a great original discoverer, he +was quick to see in what direction truth lay, and was able to lead those +who were less learned than himself. What wonder, then, that the people +of Paris were full of expectation when they heard that M. Charles had +put away his electrical studies to devote his attention to balloons? +Sufficient money having been collected he set to work with the +assistance of two brothers named Robert, and constructed an 'envelope' +of silk, which, when filled, would make a balloon twelve feet two inches +in diameter. This was very small when compared with the giant of +Annonay, but the gas that M. Charles was going to use would make it +thirteen times stronger. 'You see,' said he, 'the air that the +Montgolfiers use is twice as light as the atmosphere. I shall use +inflammable gas' (as hydrogen was then called), 'which is fourteen times +lighter; though to retain this it will be necessary to paint the silk +with rubber dissolved in turpentine.' + +But if the gentlemen who sat around the platform at Annonay had gathered +to see this baby balloon inflated they would have grown very weary, for +it took nearly four days. Every morning outside Charles's house a notice +was hung up to inform the eager crowds how the wonderful little giant +was growing; and at last it became necessary for mounted police to +protect his door, so great was the crush. Then, on the twenty-sixth of +August, though the balloon was not quite full, it was decided to carry +it to the Champs de Mars, the open space from which the ascent was to +be made. There the filling could be completed. But as not even a king, +travelling in state, would be likely to draw such excited throngs as +this balloon, arrangements were made for moving the silk bag in the +middle of the night. First, all the tools which would be required at the +launching were sent in advance; then, at two o'clock in the morning, the +procession set out. A strong body of mounted soldiers accompanied the +waggon on which the half-filled balloon was placed, while in front of it +marched a body of men carrying torches. The journey was only two miles +long, yet in that short distance the cavalcade was greeted with enough +applause to satisfy the most ambitious. All vehicles encountered _en +route_ were drawn aside, and the drivers doffed their caps as they +watched it pass. As the balloon swayed solemnly from side to side, an +imaginative on-looker might have fancied that it was acknowledging these +respectful salutations. + +In due course the scene of action was safely reached and the filling +process continued. As the gas had to be made from sulphuric acid and +iron filings, it naturally took some time, but when the clocks of Paris +were striking five on the evening of August 27th, 1783, Charles's +cloud-cruiser was ready for the voyage. The bells had hardly done +chiming when a cannon-shot was heard. It was the signal for departure. +The thousands of spectators heard it with a thrill of interest, and as +its echoes reverberated over Paris, the watchers of the high towers of +Notre Dame, and the military school, directed their telescopes to the +Champs de Mars. One of the guests was Stephen Montgolfier, for though +Charles might add improvements to others' inventions, he always +acknowledged to whom the first honour belonged. + +In spite of the heavy rain that was falling, the balloon shot into the +air with great rapidity, and in the space of a minute or two disappeared +behind a cloud. The moment it vanished another cannon was fired as +though in farewell, but the watchers (richly dressed gentlemen and fine +ladies) regardless of the weather, continued to keep their eyes upon the +clouds, and were surprised to see it once more, far above them, sailing +in the direction of Gonesse, fifteen miles away. Here in a field it +settled, three-quarters of an hour after leaving Paris, and--met its +doom. The country people, imagining it to be a large and unknown bird, +approached in fear, until one, bolder than the rest, stabbed it with a +pitchfork, when the sighing sound, made by the out-rushing gas, only +confirmed their conviction that it was endowed with life. In vain did +the village _cure_ try to dissuade them, and when at last the silk bag +lay flat and 'lifeless' on the ground, they tied it to a horse's tail +and set him galloping through the field. With wild excitement they +followed in chase, till hardly a shred of poor M. Charles's +carefully-built balloon remained to be trodden on. + +When the country folk were so ignorant as this, we can hardly be +surprised to read that the Government soon found it advisable to make +Montgolfier's discovery widely known, so as to allay 'the terror which +it might otherwise excite among the people.' + +JOHN LEA. + + + + +MY GARDEN CONCERT. + + + I hear a splendid concert in my garden every day, + When the breezes find by grove and lawn some instrument to play; + They shake the shiny laurel with the clatter of the 'bones,' + And from the lofty sycamore draw deeper 'cello tones, + And giving thus the signal that the concert should begin, + The brook beside the pebbled path strikes up its mandoline. + + Then all the garden wakes to sound, for not a bird is mute: + The robin pipes the piccolo; the blackbird plays the flute; + While high upon a cedar-top a thrush with bubbling throat + Lifts up to this accompaniment her clear soprano note. + + Then by-and-by there softly sounds, beside some flowering tree + The oboe of the dancing gnat, the cornet of the bee. + Such tiny notes--and yet with ease their cadence I can trace, + While over-head some passing rook puts in his noisy bass, + Or from a green and shady copse, a daisied field away, + I hear the jarring discords of a magpie and a jay. + + The Wind conducts the orchestra, and as he beats the time + The flood of music sinks and swells in melody sublime; + Till, when the darkness deepens and the sun sets in the West, + They all put up their instruments and settle down to rest; + And when I seek my slumber, like the daisy or the bird, + My rest is all the better for the concert I have heard. + + + + +THE LEGEND OF HELFENSTEIN. + +A German version of an old story. + + +In former times there ruled at Olmuetz, in Moravia, a Duke who allowed +himself, when in anger, to do many cruel things. One day, Bruno, his +falconer, came trembling before his master and announced to him that the +finest of the falcons was dead. When the Duke heard this, he flew into a +passion, and commanded his servants to chastise the man severely. Bruno, +however, succeeded in escaping the intended punishment, and hid himself +in the thick forest which extends from Olmuetz to the Oder valley. There +he lived by hunting, and occupied himself with charcoal-burning. + +It happened one day that as Bruno, armed with bow and arrow and battle-axe, +was going through the forest, he suddenly heard the well-known hunting-cry +of the Duke. He quickly hid himself behind an oak-tree, in order that +his master should not discover him, and saw, to his horror, that his +master was pursued by a wild bison. The Duke would have lost his life, +if Bruno, with his battle-axe, had not courageously attacked the furious +animal and given it a mortal wound. Deeply touched, the Duke thanked the +deliverer of his life for his proved fidelity, and bade him ask any +favour he pleased. + +Bruno did so. He asked to be allowed to possess as much land as he could +encircle with the skin of the dead bison. Smilingly, the Duke promised +to grant the request. + +The falconer began to cut the skin into small strips, and with them +encircled the whole hill upon which he had saved his prince's life. The +Duke was highly pleased with this proof of Bruno's cleverness as well as +courage, made him into a knight, and put him in a position of honour at +his court. Bruno became dearer to his master every day, and rendered him +many and great services. In later times he built a castle on the hill, +which, in memory of the Duke's deliverance, he called Helfenstein. + +W. Y. + + + + +CHASED BY SEAGULLS. + + +Seagulls are a very distinct tribe of birds, mostly lovers of the sea, +yet from time to time showing themselves inland. They look larger than +they really are, owing to their having a quantity of down and feathers, +the wings being also long and the head large. They are equipped with a +strong and straight bill, by means of which they devour a great variety +of food. They will occasionally go out to sea hundreds of miles from +land, but they are not welcome sights to the mariner, for he usually +regards them as signs that bad weather is approaching. The most familiar +species is the common seagull, white and grey, with greenish legs. + +One of the peculiarities of the seagull is its habit of dashing in +parties after any object that attracts its notice. This now and then +furnishes amusement to men and boys who are strolling along the Thames +banks or bridges. Supplying themselves with bits of bread or fragments +of meat, they fling these upon the river, and watch the birds eagerly +pursue the food. + +Seagulls will also give chase to birds of other species they may come +across. Not long ago the Cunard steamer _Campania_, from New York, was +nearly due south of Nova Scotia, when the look-out observed a bird close +at hand flying rapidly. In fact, it went faster than the ship, which was +then moving twenty-four statute miles an hour. A great number of +seagulls were chasing the fugitive, but could not make enough speed to +catch it. At length the bird settled upon the deck, wearied, and proved +to be a fine specimen of the snowy owl. + +The snowy owl is a species chiefly found in the Arctic Circle, +especially about Greenland and Iceland. It is a hardy bird, and has its +nest among the rocks. The bill is hooked like a hawk's, having round the +base a few stiff feathers. Its plumage is snowy white touched with some +brown. + +J. R. S. C. + +[Illustration: "A great number of seagulls were chasing the fugitive."] + +[Illustration: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.] + +[Illustration: "'You shall go,' said the captain, 'if I lose every +passenger.'"] + + + + +THE CAPTAIN AND THE INVALID. + + +A fine instance of moral courage occurred not long ago at a small +seaport. The captain of a little passenger-boat, a tall, sun-browned +man, stood on his craft superintending the labours of his men, when the +boat train came in, and about twelve minutes after, a party of +half-a-dozen gentlemen came along, and, deliberately walking up to the +captain, thus addressed him:-- + +'Sir, we wish to go by this boat, but our further progress to-day +depends upon you. In the train we have just left there is a sick man, +whose presence is extremely disagreeable to us. We have been chosen as a +committee by the passengers, to ask that you will deny this man a +passage on your boat; if he goes, we remain here.' + +By this time others had come from the train. + +'Gentlemen,' said the captain, 'I have heard the passengers through your +committee. Has the invalid any representatives here? I wish to hear both +sides of the question.' + +To this unexpected inquiry there was not a single answer. Without a +pause, the captain crossed to the car, and, entering, beheld a poor, +emaciated, worn-out creature, who was obviously very weak and ill. + +The man's head was bowed in his hands, and he was weeping. The captain +advanced and spoke kindly to him. + +'Oh, sir,' said the invalid, looking up, his face lit up with hope and +expectation, 'are you the captain, and will you take me? The passengers +shun me, and are so unkind. You see, sir, I am dying; but if I can live +to see my mother, I shall die happy. She lives at B----, sir, and my +journey is more than half performed. I am a poor printer, and the only +child of her in whose arms I would wish to die.' + +'You shall go,' said the captain, 'if I lose every passenger for the +trip.' + +By this time the whole crowd of passengers were grouped around the +gangway, with their baggage piled on the pier, waiting for the decision +of the captain, before engaging their passage. + +A moment more, and that decision was made known, for they saw him coming +from the cars with the sick man cradled in his strong arms. Pushing +directly through the crowd with his burden, he ordered a mattress to be +put in the cabin, where he laid the invalid with all the care of a +parent. + +Then, scarcely deigning to cast a look at the astonished crowd, he +called loudly to his men: 'Let go!' + +But a new feeling seemed to possess the passengers, that of shame and +contrition at their own inhumanity. With a common impulse each seized +his own baggage, and went in a shamefaced way on board the boat. + +In a short time a message was sent to the captain, asking his presence +in the cabin. He went, and one of the passengers, speaking for the rest, +with faltering voice told the rough captain that he had taught them a +lesson--that they felt humble before him, and they asked his +forgiveness. + +W. Y. + + + + +BOUQUETS. + + + Buttercups and daisies, + Violets and May, + Pimpernels and cowslips, + Make a sweet bouquet. + Not a rose among them; + Nought the garden yields. + Yet a lot of beauty + Taken from the fields, + Gathered in the sunshine, + Through the happy hours-- + What a sweet bouquet, dears, + Made of simple flowers! + + Patience and forgiveness, + Kindness to the weak; + Willing in our labour + All the happy week; + No exalted actions + Striving after praise, + Yet a lot of beauty + From life's lowly ways, + Gathered through the day, dear, + By the heart that heeds-- + What a sweet bouquet, dear! + Made of simple deeds. + +J. L. + + + + +McLEOD OF CLERE. + +Founded on Fact. + +I. + + +The moonlight lay in soft brilliance over the land of Burmah. Its rays +pierced the small slit windows in the cell of the fanatic An-we-lota, +and lighted up the fierce faces of the dacoits and desperate men, who +from time to time stealthily entered, until a close-packed band had +collected. Near and far a message had reached these malcontents that an +attack would be made on some of the British outposts scattered here and +there over the newly conquered territory, and held by English officers +and a brave force of Sikhs and Pathans. + +'We are as nothing,' said An-we-lota; 'these Ingalay' (Englishmen) 'have +taken our country, and are now setting up their camps everywhere among +us, for these men to spy on us. They say the glorious King Theebaw is +dead. Know we not well that he will come again and reign over us? I am +myself possessed of magic power. I have swallowed the all-powerful +mercury, which makes me proof against bullet and steel, which turn to +water as they touch me. Have I not also the coins of invulnerability +bound in the flesh and blood of my arm?' and the fanatic stripped up the +sleeve of his yellow robe and showed his bare, skinny upper arm, where +the edges of buried coins were visible in deep cuts. 'I am king as well +as priest; I am the Prince Setkia Muntna, who was drowned in the +Irrawaddy seventy years ago. I have come to life again--behold, I am +he.' + +Dusky hands were raised in salutation, and one evil-looking warrior +stepped forward: 'I am also proof against bullets. Was I not Theebaw's +chief "Boh"?' (head warrior). 'I am ready to lead any expedition against +these robbing English. See, we are all armed.' + +The moonlight flashed on the murderous-looking 'dah' knives raised for +an instant from the folds of the garments of the assembled men. + +'Our first attack,' said An-we-lota, 'shall be on the Sardu Station. Our +scout, Al Met, has brought word that much of their force has been called +away to quell the Wahs. Our attack shall be swift and sure, and with our +band here we shall outnumber them, and exterminate the whole while they +are sleeping. When shall we start?' + +'No time like the present,' was the cry, and the dahs flew out again and +were uplifted. + +In a few minutes the cell was emptied, and the stealthy march began, by +rock and jungle and secret paths, to the doomed outpost station. + +The hours passed, and the early morning light showed pale on the blazing +huts of Sardu Fort, and on dead and dying scattered about. Where the +dead were thickest lay a young English officer gasping, 'Inez, my +darling, we shall meet again soon, and our little son----' + +Close at hand lay the fanatic, An-we-lota, dead, his magic coins and +mercury-fed body no proof against British steel. + +From the distance there came the tread of a returning force--too +late!--and in the deepest shades of the jungle a native woman, with +horror-stricken face, pressed forward through tangle and thorn, with a +living, wailing bundle clasped close to her breast. + +How many days she spent in weary wandering over well-nigh a hundred +miles of jungle and plain, helped by log-boat up strange waters, ever +heading for the homes of her people, the Karens--a bourne she was never +to reach--who can say? + + * * * * * + +It was early morning. The first faint streaks of dawn were chasing the +night shadows from hill and valley. Early risers in a little jungle +village far distant from Fort Sardu shivered as they rose from their +sleeping-places, and pushing aside the curiously woven mats, hung from +the eaves of the sloping roofs, descended to the waking world outside. +The native dogs howled hideously as they were unceremoniously driven +from the still smouldering embers of last night's fires. + +Maung Yet, one of the first astir, twisted the folds of his waist-cloth +closer round him, and looked forth upon the morning. The rising sun was +turning into gold and bronze the ripening paddy fields close at hand, +glorifying the reed roofs of the native huts under the feathery palms, +and gilding the distant belt of jungle, stretching away to the horizon. + +The huts of the Tounghi tribe were raised breast-high on stout posts, as +protection against wild beasts and snakes. Many dark-skinned natives +moving around in busy preparation showed that the labours of the day +would be beginning early. + +It was the time of the Burmese harvest, and the first of the ripe paddy +fields would be gathered in that day. Already might be heard the hoarse +voice of crows, and the screams of hundreds of bright-hued parrakeets, +descending for their feast on the precious grain. At the sound, many of +the village youths ran up quickly, and with cries and rude bird-clappers +scared the birds away, only to set to work again at some more distant +spot. + +Many and various were the sounds echoing around Maung Yet, and ever and +anon he seemed to distinguish from among them a sound like a human cry. +Once more it came, and Maung stood keenly listening. Yes, a cry for +help, certainly, and a dog's strange, shrill bark, too--and both from +the far-off jungle. Maung Yet trembled. Was it the cry, perchance, of +some robber luring him to destruction, or was it really a +fellow-creature's cry for help? + +The Burman, like all his race, was very superstitious, and avoided the +jungle as being haunted; but his heart was kind. Arming himself with his +primitive sickle, he beckoned to Lan Wee, his young brother, who was +squatting on the ground eating a huge mass of rice, and set off at full +speed towards the spot whence the cries proceeded, attracted onward +against his will by the voice of misery. The youth followed him closely, +his eyes wide open with fear, as they neared the dreaded jungle. In its +dark shadows who could say what dangers lurked? They pressed on, +however, through trails of prickly foliage, clinging undergrowth, and +fallen timber, which lay like so many traps for unwary feet. The cry had +sunk to a moan, but the dog's whine was shriller and more urgent as they +neared the end of their quest. + +Both Burmen were tattooed over breast and shoulders with a glorious +blazonry of red--a decoration performed with religious rites as a +protection against 'evil spirits.' Few Burmen would face the jungle +unless thus fortified. Maung felt a few qualms even in spite of his +tattoo, but invoking the 'aing-sohn' (the good spirits), he and his +young companion, breathless and panting, struggled on, and came to what +they sought at last. + +Half resting against a fallen tree-trunk lay an apparently dead native +woman, reduced to almost a skeleton. Her bare feet told of long, rough +journeying, and from wrist to elbow of the left arm was a half-healed +wound, such as Maung Yet knew well the keen 'dah' could leave. From her +neck was slung a baby, and standing fiercely on guard, a lean, whitish +dog. + +With the curious canine instinct, divining rightly friend or foe, the +dog allowed the approach of the two Burmen. Maung knelt and raised the +prostrate woman; the weak head fell heavily on his shoulder, then +stirred uneasily, the eyes opened, and the dying lips tried again and +again to find utterance. Broken words at last whispered faintly over and +over again, 'Bebe Ingalay--Mah Kloo! Thakin Missee Bebe!' Then the +wasted hands tried to remove the baby. Maung understood, and signed to +the youth to lift it from her neck. The movement woke the child, and it +uttered a thin cry. The sound roused the flickering life of the dying +woman for an instant; with a last movement she lightly touched the wee +dark head, smiled faintly, and died. + +[Illustration: "Maung and his young companion came to what they sought +at last."] + +A shallow grave was hastily dug. A pouch in the tattered garments +contained a few coins of money and a curious small gold cross. Maung Yet +touched his tattoo anxiously as he took the latter: it must be, he +thought, some strange charm. Then he placed the coins in the mouth of +the dead woman, in the belief that this provided ferry-hire over the +death river, and he and Lan Wee lifted the woman into the grave. Then, +with all speed, the two Burmen left the hated jungle, carrying the tiny +infant, the lean dog following closely. + +(_Continued on page 78._) + +[Illustration: "She looked a little suspiciously at my muddy legs."] + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 61._) + + +The cyclist was a good-looking, short, but well-built man, clad in a +light, home-spun suit, with knickerbockers and a Panama hat. On the +frame of his bicycle was an ordinary mackintosh haversack, and, strapped +behind the saddle, a paint-box, a folding sketching-stool, and a +good-sized sketching-block. Fixing the pump, he knelt down to inflate +the tyre; but the pump was rather small, the sun was hot (as I felt, +having no hat), and the man seemed soon to weary of his job. He had +glanced once or twice in my direction, and now he rose, blew out his +cheeks, and cried: "Hi, boy! do you want to earn a copper?" + +'Rather!' I answered, thinking of breakfast. + +'Just pump up this tyre for me, then,' he said; and, going down on my +knees by the roadside, I began to pump with a will, while he took out a +pipe and began to fill it. 'Think that's all right?' he asked, as I rose +to my feet. + +'It feels pretty hard,' I answered. + +'Well, here's twopence for you,' he cried. + +'Thanks, awfully,' I said, putting out my hand. + +Holding his machine, on the point of wheeling it into the middle of the +road, he paused, staring into my face. + +'Where are you bound for?' he inquired. + +'London,' I replied. 'Can you tell me which is the road?' + +He stared again for what seemed a long time, and it was evident that I +caused him a little perplexity. + +'Of course,' he muttered, half to himself; 'it must be the holidays just +now.' + +'They began last month,' I answered. + +'Yet I am sure you are running away,' he cried. + +Somewhat alarmed, in consequence of my recent experiences, I thought it +time to get on my way. + +'Don't be in a hurry,' he said. 'I think you and I ought to have a +little talk.' + +'I want to get along,' I retorted. + +'Where to?' + +'To get some breakfast,' I replied. + +'Hungry, eh?' he asked. + +'A little.' + +With that he looked at his watch; then, saying that it was nearly +twelve, he took from a side pocket of his jacket a tin case, packed with +tempting-looking sandwiches. + +'Just put yourself outside those,' he said, handing me the tin. + +'But--but,' I suggested with an effort, 'won't you want them?' + +'I am all right,' he said, with a laugh; 'you needn't bother about me. +Sit down and start.' + +Needing no further persuasion, I sat down on the grass by the way-side, +and steadily emptied the sandwich tin. Before this was accomplished, +however, he produced a flask, pouring some of its contents into a small +cup which fitted on to one end. It seemed to put fresh life into me. + +'Feel better?' he inquired, as he replaced the flask in his pocket. + +'Ever so much,' I answered. + +'Well, then, suppose you tell me all about yourself.' + +'I would much rather not,' I insisted. + +'Why?' + +'Because you--you might try to take me back!' + +'Think for a moment, and don't be stupid,' he said. 'How can I take you +back if you don't tell me where you have come from? Besides, you would +be as much as I could carry with my bike, you know. So fire away,' he +added, and I sat on the grass and once more told my story from the +beginning, except that this time I omitted to mention Mr. Turton's name +or address. + +'When you reach London,' he asked after I had become silent, 'what are +you going to do?' + +'Other fellows have been able to do things,' I answered. + +'But, you know,' he said, with a kind sort of smile, 'you have not even +got a cat.' + +'I believe I shall be all right if only I get there,' I persisted. 'If +you would not mind telling me the way to the main road.' + +'Well,' he said, 'all roads lead to London.' + +'Any one will do for me,' I answered, and upon that he wheeled his +machine into the middle of the road. + +'Ever ridden on a step?' he asked. + +'Rather!' + +'Then get up behind me, only don't upset my baggage.' + +He mounted as he spoke, and in a second I was standing on the step +behind him. In spite of the circumstances, I thoroughly enjoyed that +eight miles ride, and felt sincerely sorry when it ended. Now we coasted +down a hill, now we both dismounted to walk up one, and, after one such +walk, my companion stopped, unfastened his haversack, and took out a +cloth cap. + +'Think you could wear that?' he asked, and, trying it on, I found it was +only slightly too big. + +'Thank you most awfully,' I said as we rode on again, and then we did +not stop until we reached four cross-roads. Seeing the word +'Polehampton' on a finger-post, I perceived that I had returned to the +road from Castlemore to London, which I had left to cross the fields in +my futile endeavour to avoid the tramp. It was true that I had made a +fairly wide circuit, for my new friend told me I should still have five +miles to walk to Polehampton. + +'I am immensely obliged to you for the lift and--and everything,' I +said, as he seemed to be on the point of starting. I felt extremely +reluctant to part from him. + +'That is all right,' he answered, thrusting his hand in his +knickerbocker pocket. 'This may help you on your way.' He put something +into my hand as he pressed it, then, without another word, mounted his +bicycle and rode away. Opening my hand, I found five two-shilling +pieces. For the next few yards I did not see things very clearly, for I +felt too thankful. + +After looking back once or twice until he was out of sight, I set out in +a business-like manner to walk the five miles to Polehampton. The events +of the morning had filled me with fresh courage, and now that my face +was once set towards London, earlier hopes began to reawaken. I should +have liked to know my companion's name, to keep in my memory with that +of Mr. Baker and Eliza, but I never saw or heard of him again. Still, I +have not forgotten him or the good turn he did me, and I wish that this +story might come into his hands to show that I am not ungrateful. + +Having passed through so much in a short time, I was inclined to expect +every mile to bring forth its own peculiar adventure, but Polehampton +came into sight without any remarkable occurrence. I scarcely enjoyed +the walk, as my legs ached more than ever, and I rested many times by +the roadside. + +To-day being Friday, I determined, on the strength of my ten shillings, +to look for a cheap temperance hotel, or some place of the kind, and +make a bargain with the proprietor to stay over Saturday and Sunday. +This would give me time to rest and make myself a little more +presentable, because, in my present muddy condition, I knew that it +would be impossible to obtain any kind of work. + +For that was what I intended to do. Instead of hoping to reach London in +six days, as at first, I would try to earn a little money by the way, +because I perceived that it would be no use entering in such a condition +as I was at present. + +Polehampton appeared to be even a smaller place than Broughton, and by +no stretch of imagination could it be described as a town. Still, it +felt pleasant to see a few people about; and noticing a clean-looking +whitewashed cottage, with a few bottles of sweets and ginger-beer in the +window, I entered, sitting down on an empty box while a white-haired, +round-backed old woman opened a bottle of ginger-beer, and a spaniel +came from a back room and began to lick my hands. Having paid my penny, +I sat sipping the ginger-beer, when it occurred to me that it would be a +capital place to lodge, if only the old woman would take me. + +'I say,' I exclaimed, 'do you know where I could get a lodging?' + +She looked a little suspiciously at my muddy legs. + +'For yourself?' she inquired. + +'Yes.' + +'How long for?' + +'Till Monday morning,' I answered. 'You see, I want to know how much it +would cost for a bed and food until then.' + +'That is three nights,' she said, thoughtfully. 'There is a small room I +might make up a bed in, on the floor, if that would suit you, and there +will be a joint of pork for Sunday.' + +'To-day's only Friday,' I hinted. + +'There is a bit of cheese and a bit of bacon,' she explained. 'Till +Monday morning, you say? I should not think five shillings would hurt +you.' + +So I gave her five shillings, thus leaving only five and a penny in my +pocket; but so sorely at that moment did I feel the need of rest that I +did not hesitate. The old woman--Mrs. Riddles--lived alone with her old +brown spaniel. There was a room behind the shop, which served the +purpose of a kitchen, a sitting-room, and a wash-house. In one corner +stood a step-ladder, leading to one bedroom and a kind of cupboard, +without either window or fireplace, or any furniture but one bottomless +chair. This I discovered was intended for my own use, and, indeed, so +long as I might lie down in it, I cared about little else. + +After an early supper, consisting of bread, some very fat cold streaky +bacon, and cheese, Mrs. Riddles put a sofa-cushion, a pillow, two thin +blankets, and a sheet on the cupboard floor, and advising me to leave +the door open for the sake of air, retired to her own room. It was a +vastly different kind of bed from that which had been given to me by +Eliza at Mr. Baker's farmhouse, but at least it did not prevent me from +sleeping the moment my head touched the pillow. I did not reopen my eyes +until Mrs. Riddles brought me a can of cold water and a basin, with soap +and a towel, on Saturday morning. + +'It is seven o'clock,' she said, 'and breakfast is ready when you are.' +For Mrs. Riddles' credit I must confess that I have seldom enjoyed a +breakfast more. It consisted of dry bread, oatmeal porridge, and coffee. +Oddly enough, the coffee was delicious, and the porridge was equally +good, so that, thoroughly refreshed by a long night's sleep and an ample +breakfast, I brushed my knickerbockers, cleaned my boots, and went forth +into the main street of Polehampton feeling fit for anything that might +happen. + +(_Continued on page 74._) + + + + +THE GENEROUS BAKERS! + + +A deputation of a guild of bakers once presented themselves before the +chief magistrate, asking for permission to raise the price of bread, +which in those days was regulated by the corporation. When the time came +for leaving, one of the deputies dexterously left upon the table a bag +containing six hundred pounds in money. Some days afterwards they came +again, fully believing that the purse had pleaded very powerfully for +them. But the magistrate said to them, 'Gentlemen, I have weighed your +reasons in the scales of justice, and have not found them of sufficient +weight. It has not seemed just to me to make an entire town suffer by an +advance so ill-understood. Besides, I have had distributed between the +two hospitals in the town the money which you left me, not doubting that +you would wish it to be put to such a use. I also believe that, being +rich enough to make similar alms, you cannot be losing in your trade as +you say.' + +W. YARWOOD. + + + + +AFFECTIONATE EAGLES. + +A True Anecdote. + + +A man working on a farm one day saw an eagle fluttering over the +barn-yard, no doubt meaning sooner or later to swoop down in search of +prey. He determined to save his chickens, and fetching a gun, fired at +the would-be robber. But he only succeeded in hurting its wing. Instead +of falling to the ground it flapped about in the air in a helpless sort +of way, uttering loud cries of pain. + +The man was just going to fire again when he noticed another eagle +coming up in the distance. It was evidently the mate of the one he had +wounded, for it came straight to its rescue. Seeing that the first eagle +could not fly away itself, the new-comer seized its wounded mate with +its beak and claws, and, half carrying it, helped it to fly slowly away +to the mountain-side, where it put it down, as it thought, in a safe +place. For a whole week the men on the farm saw it, day after day, +carrying food to the disabled bird. It would have been quite easy for +them to have killed both the eagles during this time; but the farmer +forbade his men to molest them in any way, because he was so pleased at +the affection and courage the one had shown on behalf of the other. +After a time the wounded eagle got well, and they both flew away. + +[Illustration: "The eagle seized its wounded mate with its beak and +claws."] + +[Illustration: "Wootton stood quite upright on the pinnacle of the +steeple."] + + + + +STEEPLE-CLIMBERS. + + +Cleverness or skill in doing some particular thing has been noticed to +recur in families, and steeple-climbing is one example, we are told. At +Nottingham there was a family named Wootton, members of which had for +centuries the reputation of being daring steeple-climbers, not for +adventure, but in the way of business. Such persons were also called +steeplejacks, and they were paid liberally for their exploits, as they +deserved to be. + +Robert Wootton, who lived in the time of King George III., was famous +for repairing steeples and spires without using a scaffold; he did his +work by the help of ladders, hooks, and ropes. When he repaired St. +Peter's spire, Nottingham, in 1789, having finished his work, he beat a +drum at its top, thousands of people looking on. Another of the Woottons +undertook the perilous task of ascending the spire of St. Mary's, +Manchester, which was very lofty. By a tremendous wind the ball and +cross had been bent down, and looked dangerous. This steeple-climber +raised ladders one after the other, assisted by blocks and ropes, and +secured each in succession to the stonework with clamps. When he got +near the top of the spire the work became more difficult, and the +spectators anxiously watched him as he fixed the last ladder. Having +accomplished this feat, Wootton stepped from the ladder on to the crown +or pinnacle of the steeple, and stood quite upright, with his hands +free. Then he raised a cheer, which was responded to by the crowds +below. More extraordinary still, one of these steeple-climbers is said +to have performed the feat of standing upon his head on a steeple's top; +but there is some doubt about the story. + +J. R. S. C. + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 71._) + +CHAPTER IX. + + +It was agreeable to think that I had nothing to do, and with my hands in +my pockets I turned to the right, strolling towards the railway station, +a few yards from which was a level crossing. The station yard and +booking office stood on the left, and before the entrance were one or +two old-fashioned-looking cabs; one in particular I noticed, having a +body like a small stage-coach and yellow wheels. + +As I hung about the doorway it was alarming to realise that in spite of +my two days' journeying, and of all the accompanying dangers, I might +take a ticket and reach Castlemore in little over half an hour, and that +consequently any one else could travel from Castlemore to Polehampton in +the same short time. But it was easy to persuade myself that nobody +would feel the least desire to travel a yard on my account, although I +denied myself the pleasure of going on to the platform. Leaving the +station yard, I turned towards Mrs. Riddles' cottage again, and passing +this came to a standstill in front of a few shops on the opposite side +of the way. One was a butcher's; next to the butcher's was a grocer's, +and in its window I saw a card: + + 'ACTIVE LAD WANTED.' + +I read, and as I stood gazing at the card, a short, red-haired man came +to the door, rubbing his hands and looking smilingly about him. + +'Do you want a berth?' he asked, after he had eyed me once or twice. + +'I don't know,' I answered. + +'A stranger here?' + +'Yes,' I said. + +'Ah, well,' he answered, 'even if you wanted a job, I could not take you +without a character. But Mr. Raikes, at the Home Farm down the road, +would take any one this morning. He has got his large field of hay down, +and it will probably rain before Monday. If he does not get it carried +to-night, as likely as not half will be spoilt.' + +With that he re-entered his shop, while I strolled on at first aimlessly +down the street. + +I began to wonder how far it was to the Home Farm. A day's hay-making +seemed to be a kind of play, and if one could be paid for such +amusement, so much the better. For now that I had paid Mrs. Riddles I +had only five shillings, and when once I started again they would not go +very far. I had sufficient forethought to return to the cottage and ask +for some luncheon to put in my pocket; then, armed with a slice of bread +and a chunk of the fat bacon from which I had supped the previous night, +I set out for the farm. + +There was a large field adjoining the road, with an open gate. At the +farther end, two carts were being loaded, but nearer the road, several +men and women were busily making the rows of hay into cocks. Close at +hand stood a tall, sparely built farmer with a cane in his hand and a +fox-terrier by his side. He seemed to be trying to hurry everybody +along, and there was an air of bustle and haste about the whole scene. +Although the sun shone hotly, threatening clouds were coming up, and it +would require a hard day's work to get all the hay carried by nightfall. + +'Here, youngster!' he cried, as soon as he saw me, 'do you want a job?' + +'Yes, please,' I answered. + +'Fire away then. You will find a fork against the hedge. Go and join +those men,' and he pointed to the haymakers with his cane. Taking the +fork, I ran across the field and set to work with a will. But the sun +shone fiercely, and when twelve o'clock came I would gladly have lain +down in the shade of the hedge. The moment we had finished dinner the +farmer urged us to work again, and so we kept at it through the +afternoon, until the last load was carried at seven o'clock and we all +drew round the farmer for our money. He gave me a shilling for my day's +work, and I confess I walked back rather proudly to Mrs. Riddles' +cottage, feeling that I had made a beginning and earned my first +shilling. + +There was no difficulty about sleeping that night. The bells were +ringing for service while I dressed the next morning. Having made my +appearance as decent as possible, I walked across some fields to a small +church. On the way home to dinner I noticed a stream which looked +extremely tempting. Mrs. Riddles had spread a clean but much-darned +tablecloth, and the roast pork was ready. During the meal, the rain, +which had been threatening since yesterday, began to fall, but when it +ceased at half-past three I borrowed a towel, and ran across the damp +fields to the river and soon plunged in. + +The swim was delightful, and having partly dressed again, I sat on the +bank and washed my socks, which I carried home in my hands. On the whole +it was a good day, although the wet which set in again towards the +evening made me anxious about to-morrow. If the rain continued, all my +plans would be upset. I had determined to sleep out of doors for the +next night or two, thus eking out my money, but I could not very well +sleep without shelter unless it were fine and dry. + +Unfortunately, Monday proved to be a drizzling morning, so that instead +of setting forth as I had intended before eight, I hung about the door +of the cottage, hoping the weather might improve. Towards ten o'clock, +the rain began to cease, and looking inside the back room I said +'good-bye' to Mrs. Riddles, who inquired in which direction I was going. + +'To London,' I answered, and this was the first sign of curiosity she +had betrayed concerning either myself or my destination. She was a very +old woman and somewhat deaf, treating my presence entirely as a matter +of course. + +However, I bade her good-bye, and was on the point of stepping from the +shop into the small front garden, when instinctively I sprang back and +shut the door. + +To my horror I had seen Mr. Turton and Augustus walking along the middle +of the road, each carrying an umbrella; Mr. Turton had an anxious +expression on his pale, bearded face. As I crouched, peeping between the +bottles of sweets in the window, I saw them pass the gate and come to a +standstill. They had the manner of persons on the look-out for some one, +and it seemed impossible to doubt that the some one was myself. + +I confess that I felt surprised. Why should Mr. Turton want me back at +Castlemore, unless, indeed, for the sake of taking revenge for my +flight? At least, I could conceive no other reason, and while feeling +deeply thankful for my narrow escape, I determined to spare no effort to +make this effectual. That Mr. Turton should have hit upon my precise +locality did not appear very remarkable. + +These thoughts passed through my mind in far less time than it takes to +set them down on paper. I remembered that my friend on the bicycle had +said that all roads led to London, and now the idea occurred that the +best way to evade Mr. Turton and yet to attain my purpose, would be to +make a dash across to some other main road, keeping almost paralled with +my pursuers. + +After appearing to hesitate in the middle of the road, only a few yards +from my hiding-place, Augustus and his father approached the door of the +opposite butcher's shop, presumably with the intention of inquiring +whether a boy of my description had been seen in the place. I regretted +now my short conversation with the grocer, who had nodded to me in a +friendly way as I came home from church on Sunday, and no doubt had seen +me enter Mrs. Riddles' cottage. + +If he directed Mr. Turton thither, I was lost, unless I could succeed in +leaving Polehampton before the Turtons came out again. Now, close to the +station yard was a lane, which led I knew not whither, but at least it +could be reached without passing the opposite shops. Opening the door, +as Mr. Turton left the butcher's and entered the grocer's, while his +back and his son's were towards me, I made a dash through the garden, +turned to my right, nor looked behind until I had reached the other side +of the street. Then to my alarm I saw Mrs. Riddles standing at her door, +which I had just left, while Mr. Turton and Augustus were hurrying +across the roadway towards her. Fortunately they seemed too excited to +look about them, so that I guessed that the grocer had set them on my +track. + +Taking to my heels I sped down the lane, soon leaving the few cottages +behind and finding myself between low hedges with wheat growing on one +hand and sheep-turnips on the other. A short distance ahead, I saw a +butcher's cart on the point of leaving a cottage door. + +'Are you going straight on?' I cried to the boy, only a little older +than myself, who was driving. + +'What if I am?' he demanded. + +'You might give me a lift, that's all.' + +'Oh yes, I dare say!' he answered. + +'I will give you sixpence,' I said. + +'Up you jump,' he exclaimed, and the next instant I was seated by his +side, clinging to an iron railing on the top of the cart. + +'How far are you going?' I inquired. + +'Only to Hincham--about two miles,' he answered. 'I have got to fetch a +calf.' + +Two miles would be better than no start at all, for I felt certain that +Mr. Turton would follow me. Mrs. Riddles had seen the direction I had +taken, and he might hire one of the railway-station cabs to overtake me. +Fortunately, the butcher's boy drove at a smart pace--faster, I thought, +than any cab; but when we reached Hincham and I paid his sixpence and +alighted, I scarcely knew what to do. + +My experience on leaving the road for the fields on the first day had +not been encouraging, so without much notion of where I was going, I +determined to push along the lane for some distance, keeping a frequent +look-out in the rear. Turning at intervals to look back along the +straight, level lane, I walked on for a few miles, while the rain +continued to hold off and the sun came out again. Stopping once more to +make certain there was no pursuit, I saw to my dismay a vehicle rapidly +approaching. + +Recognising it as the queer-looking fly I had noticed on Saturday in the +railway-station yard, I felt no doubt that it contained Mr. Turton and +Augustus. The driver turned and stooped down towards the off-side +window, as if to speak to them, while the next instant, a head being +thrust out, he pointed in my direction with his whip. + +[Illustration: 'To my horror I had seen Mr. Turton and Augustus.'] + +Now what was I to do? It seemed that although they might be able to see +that I was a boy, the distance was too great to enable Mr. Turton to +recognise me, with any certainty, as his runaway pupil. Fortunately, the +lane began to wind to the right a few yards ahead, and taking to my +heels, I was soon out of sight of the occupants of the cab. + +A few yards further still, the lane bent again, and more sharply, so, +seizing the opportunity, I climbed over a gate on the left into a large +meadow, which contained a great many sheep and cattle. + +(_Continued on page 85._) + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +III.--HOW BUTTERFLIES, FLIES, AND SNAILS FEED. + + +When we come to examine the methods by which the more lowly creatures +take up their food, we cannot but feel astonished at the marvellous +number of contrivances by which this is done. To bring home this fact, +let us compare the methods of feeding of two of our commonest insects +with those adopted by another and very different group of animals--the +Mollusca, taking the common snail as an example. + +By the butterflies and moths the food is taken in a liquid form--honey +procured from flowers--by means of a most marvellously complex 'tongue' +or 'proboscis.' This organ, when not in use, is coiled up so as to be +out of harm's way, but when the creature desires to feed it can be +extended with wonderful rapidity. Its length is astonishing: in many +cases, as in some of the hawk-moths, it attains a length of four to five +times that of the body, and in some species it may be as long as ten +inches! The general shape of this tongue you will see in the figure +marked A, which shows what the tongue is like when seen under the +microscope. + +[Illustration: Fig. A.--Tongue of Butterfly (greatly magnified).] + +Carefully examined by the aid of a microscope, this tongue will be found +to be made up of two separate tubes lying side by side, and, as each +tube is grooved along its inner side, it follows that when the two +separate halves are brought together, a third tube lying between the two +outer ones is formed. So closely do these two halves fit when closed +that this middle tube is perfectly air-tight. This union is secured by +a number of hairy projections which interlock, much as one's clasped +fingers interlock. Only the middle tube is used for the passage of the +honey, the side tubes being used, as some think, for breathing purposes, +while others hold that they serve to help in pumping up the fluids into +the mouth. By this interlocking contrivance the tube can easily be +opened and cleaned, should the passage become blocked by solid +particles. + +Delicate as this wonderful 'tongue' appears to be, it is in some cases +capable of inflicting wounds on the tissues of the food plants. A +species of moth, for instance, causes considerable damage to crops of +oranges by inserting its trunk through the peel so as to suck the juices +of the enclosed pulp. The sucking action is performed by means of a +small bag inside the head, the size of which can be alternately +increased and decreased by the action of muscles, thus causing a pumping +action. + +[Illustration: Fig. B.--Fly's Tongue (greatly magnified).] + +It will probably surprise many readers of _Chatterbox_ to learn that +this wonderful tongue is by no means always found in butterflies, for +there are many species which have no mouth, and take no food whatever +after they emerge from the chrysalis stage. They simply live long enough +to lay their eggs, and then die! + +[Illustration: Fig. C.--Common Fly.] + +The tongue of the fly is every bit as wonderful as that of the +butterfly. Strictly speaking, perhaps it ought not to be called either a +tongue or a proboscis, for it is really a spout-like mouth bent upon +itself, and furnished at its end with a curious pair of flaps or lobes. +You may get an idea of what it is like if you imagine the spout of a +teapot to turn downwards at first instead of upwards, and then picture +the spout turned sharply forwards near its middle. The body of the +teapot corresponds to the fly's head; the end of the spout would +correspond to the mouth of the fly. On each side of this mouth there +will be found in the fly a pair of ear-shaped flaps or lobes, and these +play a very important part. Each flap or lobe (see fig. B), where it +joins the mouth, contains a long tube, and this tube gives off, along +its outer side, about thirty smaller tubes, which are open below. Now, +when the 'tongue,' as it is called, is extended, as in feeding, a +copious flow of saliva is sent down the long tubular mouth into the tube +of each flap, and when this is full the liquid escapes into the smaller +tubes, and as these are open below, it flows out, of course, on to the +food. Let us imagine this to be sugar. The saliva meets the sugar, and +the syrup which is of course formed is then drawn up along the same +channel as that by which the saliva came down. New surfaces for the +saliva to work upon are constantly exposed by means of some fifty or +sixty exceedingly tiny 'teeth,' which, by the aid of the microscope, +will be found at the opening of the mouth, just where the tube-bearing +flaps join it. The two rod-shaped, hairy organs at the base of the +'tongue,' in the illustration, are organs of touch, and not part of the +'tongue' proper. + +(_Concluded at page 109._) + + + + +THE ELEPHANT AND THE CROCODILE. + +A Fable. + + +An Elephant and a Crocodile were once standing beside a river. They were +disputing as to which was the better animal. + +'Look at my strength,' said the Elephant. 'I can tear up a tree, roots +and all, with my trunk.' + +'Ah! but quantity is not quality, and your skin is not nearly so tough +as mine,' replied the Crocodile, 'for neither spear, arrow, nor sword +can pierce it.' + +Just as they were coming to blows, a Lion happened to pass. + +'Heyday, sirs!' said His Majesty, going up to them, 'let me know the +cause of your quarrel.' + +'Will you kindly tell us which is the better animal?' cried both at +once. + +'Certainly,' said the Lion. 'Do you see that soldier's steel helmet on +yonder wall?' pointing at the same time across the river. + +'Yes!' replied the beasts. + +'Well, then,' continued the Lion, 'go and fetch it, and bring it to me, +and I shall be able then to decide between you.' + +Upon hearing this, off they started. The Crocodile, being used to the +water, reached the opposite bank of the river first, and was not long in +standing beside the wall. + +Here he waited till the Elephant came up. The latter, seeing at a glance +how matters stood, extended his long trunk, and reached the helmet quite +easily. + +They then made their way together back again across the river. The +Elephant, anxious to keep up with the Crocodile in the water, forgot +that he was carrying the helmet on his back, and a sudden lurch caused +the prize to slip off and sink to the bottom. The Crocodile noticed the +accident, so down he dived, and brought it up in his capacious mouth. +They then returned, and the Crocodile laid the helmet at the Lion's +feet. His Majesty took up the helmet, and addressing the Elephant, +said:-- + +'You, on account of your size and trunk, were able to reach the prize on +the wall but, having lost it, you were unable to recover it. And you,' +said the Lion, turning to the Crocodile, 'although unable to reach the +helmet, were able to dive for it and save it. You are both wise and +clever in your respective ways. Neither is better than the other.' + +MORAL: Every one has his special use in the world. + +H. BERKELEY SCORE. + + + + +McLEOD OF CLERE. + +(_Continued from page 68._) + + +There was much excitement in the Tounghi huts when the story was told, +and Maung Yet's wife took possession of the 'Bebe Ingalay.' Much talking +and gesticulation, too, among the mothers of the tribe over the white +skin of the little stranger. Frail and weak, he seemed at first inclined +to slip away from his adventurous life, but Mah Soh had a big motherly +heart under her dark skin, and loved Bebe with a great love, and tended +him with all the care she knew. + +Thus, in spite of strange food and surroundings, the little one throve. +His dark eyes took in the brightness of sunshine and moonrays, he slept +on his red sleeping-mat under the shade of gorgeous blossoms, waking to +the sound of water and the scream of red and green parrakeets, and his +tiny hands were raised, with coos of excitement, to catch these +bright-hued creatures flitting from branch to branch above him. There he +heard the cries of the boys as they goaded the lazy oxen to pull the +clumsy carts faster as they came laden from the steaming paddy fields. +Bebe learned to love even the pye-dogs which congregated under the huts, +and would let him touch them. He loved Mah Soh the best, of course, but +almost as much his own white dog, who guarded Bebe jealously, and gave +alarm if any evil threatened him. Bebe soon learnt to twist his tiny +fingers in the dog's metal collar to keep him near. + +When the rice was all gathered, the paddy boats were laden and shipped +down the river to the market at Rangoon. Then quieter days began, and +Mah Soh, dressed in her best on gala days, would stand at the hut door +and chat to the neighbours in their curious musical language. + +'How could the Bebe Ingalay have got into the jungle?' 'It was the woman +who had died who had brought him there.' 'Did she not call herself Mah +Kloo, and had not Maung thought she was a Karen woman?' 'Yes, that was +so, but Bebe could not have been her child; had she not said he was +Ingalay?' 'It must have been sad for a "Mem" or a "Thakin Ingalay" to +lose him.' + +Ah, it was hard to understand, and there was the queer charm the woman +had, but it and Bebe had brought good fortune--never had Maung Yet +gathered in a better harvest. And the little subject of all this talk, +dressed like a Burmese baby in Mah Soh's arms, heard all, and understood +nothing, not knowing how all-important it was to him. + +The rainy season was unusually severe that year, and came all too soon; +then fever broke out in the jungle villages--it came to Maung Yet's +house, and Mah Soh was one of the first to die. Bebe cried, and when no +one knew, he crawled to her. They took him away when they found him +there; he lay hot and restless on his sleeping-mat, for he too had taken +the fever. Maung Yet was a sad man that day, and he and his fellows +talked much of the trouble. They said the evil spirits must be angry, +and some dread thing would happen if the white baby died. Had they not +tied round its neck the metal charm, and it had worked no cure yet? Then +one told of a camp of white men, Thakins (captains) and native soldiers, +who had raised many tents and huts by the big lake: would it not be wise +to take Bebe to them? + +Maung Yet resolved to do so; they would start at moonrise. Wrapped in +cloth and skins tenderly by the women, Bebe was placed in the tappa (a +Burmese basket of creel-shape), and slung over Maung's shoulder. They +paced rapidly through the night, he and his fellows, until at sunrise +they saw the shining of Lake Ownwi, and later the sentries and huts of a +camp, and knew that their wandering was nearly ended. + + + + +II. + + +It was the first day of the summer term, at Oakwood Preparatory School, +and the head master, Dr. Rayne, was interviewing in his study various +parents bringing new boys, all of the latter more or less subdued by so +august a presence. + +A ring had heralded a fresh arrival, and the butler announced 'Captain +Ferrers.' A middle-aged man, bronzed and tall, and followed by a dark, +handsome boy some ten years old, entered, and was warmly greeted by Dr. +Rayne, who, grasping him by both hands, exclaimed: 'Welcome back to +England, Ferrers! It is good to see you again. I got your note, and am +most interested--this is your little charge, of course--glad to see you, +my little man.' + +'Yes, this is Paul. I have been telling him a lot about my old days +here, and how I was one of your first boys. I have to hurry away to-day, +and would like a few words with you first. Paul could perhaps----' + +'I will give him into my daughter's hands. New boys are her special +function. Come with me,' and a kind arm was passed round the boy's +shoulders. + +'Shall I see you again?' The child's big, dark eyes were turned +wistfully to Captain Ferrers. + +'Oh, yes, dear boy, and you can show your dog to Miss Rayne; it is +waiting outside.' + +'Now for our chat,' said Dr. Rayne, returning. 'I want to hear all you +can tell me about this child. He is a fine boy truly.' + +'And a fine character, too, proud and passionate, but affectionate and +honourable to a degree; among natives he has often helped me by his +fearless truth and sense of right. It is more than nine years since he +came to me. I was at the time newly arrived at Fort Caidman, one of the +stations in the Shan Highlands on the China-Burmese frontier. As you +know, my men are all Sikhs and Pathans, and only I and my +fellow-officers were British. One morning early, my man came to me +saying that some natives wished to speak to me. I went directly. I +found they were Tounghis, a friendly people a long way from my station. +The spokesman carried a tappa (a native carrying-basket) over his back, +and in it, wrapped in a blanket, a child apparently about a year old, +dying, as far as I could see. It was brown with exposure, and its cheeks +and eyes bright with fever. I took it for a native infant, but the man +assured me by an interpreter that it was white. His story was rather +involved, but I gathered that he had received the child from a dying +woman in the jungle--a "Karen" he called her. It was moons ago, and how +the woman had got it he did not know--she had said "Bebe" and "Ingalay" +and had died. Yes, she had said "Mah Kloo," which must have been her +name. These Burmese women generally have the prefix "Mah," and so this +was little clue. They call anything white "Ingalay" (English) as a rule, +so that also is no guide. I thought possibly the child might be +half-caste, but feel sure now he is pure European, more suggestive of +Spanish or Italian blood, I think. However, I am going from my story. I +hesitated what to do, but the man was in such trouble, and so insistent, +repeating over and over the necessity of propitiating the "good spirit," +that I called my wife, and she decided we must take the little waif, or +it would die in the basket. + +'For many days it seemed only just alive. My wife was doctor and nurse, +however, and we managed to pull him through, and in a few months he was +a beautiful walking and talking boy, the pet of the whole station; and +while my wife lived, he was her bright, happy shadow; his black head, +with a curious white lock (possibly from some bad cut), was always +cuddled close against her shoulder, and how she loved him! But she died +some months ago, and I gave up my outpost work for a time, with a year's +leave, and have come to England until my next billet is fixed. We named +the boy "Paul" after myself, and have given him the surname which was +with difficulty made out on the brass collar of a dog which came with +him--the name of "Fife," presumably that of its former master. I seemed +to gather from the man that the dog had been found with the child, but +cannot be sure. It is a breed I do not know. Inquiries and +advertisements were of no avail--no white child seemed to be inquired +for, and we had so little to go upon, as you see. And now he must be +educated, and there is no one else in the world I can turn to so surely, +or leave him with so thankfully, as you, Dr. Rayne.' + +Dr. Rayne thanked him for his confidence, and they went back to see Paul +again. Mary Rayne, the Doctor's bright-faced daughter, was making +friends with little Paul, who sat on the floor, his arms round his dog's +neck. The Captain stooped, and lifting the boy, kissed him tenderly. +'Good-bye, dear old man; you will be happy, I know, and get a clever +boy, besides lots of football and cricket. I will take care of "Boh," +and we will have no end of a good time in the holidays.' As Captain +Ferrers spoke he slipped a thin chain into the dog's collar, and led him +away. Pressed against the window a little lonely boy, with clenched +hands, trying to keep back the tears that would come, watched those he +loved best disappearing down the long drive. + +(_Continued on page 82._) + +[Illustration: "'I will take care of Boh.'"] + +[Illustration: "'Boh! Boh!' the clear voice shouted."] + + + + +McLEOD OF CLERE. + +(_Continued from page 79._) + + +'Hullo, new kid, what's your name?' + +'Paul Fife,' said the newcomer, who had just been left by Dr. Rayne in +the school playground, where boys of all sorts and sizes, from ten to +fourteen, were congregated, newly arrived from home and holidays, and +while they waited for the tea-bell, were inspecting the 'new boys.' + +'Oh, "Paul," what a jolly name. "Paul Pry," "Poll parrot," "Polly put +the kettle on." Well, Polly, and where do you come from?' + +'Let him alone, Briggs,' said the school captain (a pleasant-faced, tall +boy). 'Dr. Rayne asked me to look after him a bit. I say, though, young +'un, call yourself "Fife," that's quite enough; we don't have Christian +names here, you know.' + +'Well, Christy, you needn't punch my head, I don't want to harm the +infant,' cried Briggs. 'He can tell me where he comes from, +anyhow--can't you, new kid?' + +'I lived at Fort Caidman, in the Shan States--Burmah, you know.' + +'And what can you do, play football and cricket?' + +'No, I have not really played them, but I want to. There were no white +boys besides me, but I can shoot, and ride, and row, and fence, and +throw darts.' + +A group of boys had gathered round--little Paul tried not to feel shy. + +'Where did you row?' asked one; 'was there a river?' + +'Not near, but there was a big lake like a sea--the Inthas live there. +They are called lake-dwellers, and their huts stand on the top of the +water--Uncle Ferrers took me to their huts sometimes. The Inthas row so +funnily, partly with their legs. They can row, oh, so fast, and fish, +and hold an umbrella, all at the same time!' + +'Oh, I say, that must be a cram, anyhow. Tell the infant he must not +tell lies, Christy.' + +'I don't, and I won't tell you things if you say that,' and the child +drew himself up haughtily and turned away, clenching his small brown +fists. + +'It is a shame, you chaps,' said Christy. 'I know he has come from some +queer place in Burmah.' + +'Did you see his hair?' said Fane. 'It's as black as a coal, and just in +one place is a white streak--he is a regular magpie. Hurrah! there's the +tea-bell.' + +'Oh, I have heard my mother say some one she knew had a lock of white +hair--it looks rather jolly,' rejoined Christy. 'I say, little piebald, +don't mind our ragging. I'm awfully hungry, and I dare say you are. +There is cold beef always for tea first night of term--worth having, I +can tell you. Come along with me, and I will show you where to sit.' + + * * * * * + +Paul soon began to feel more at home as a small unit in the hundred boys +at Oakwood. + +'Wonderful at mathematics and no idea of classics' (was the verdict of +the masters), 'but can talk Gramouki and Pushtan dialects like a +native.' + +'No good at football and cricket, but promises well,' said the boys, +'and can climb and jump anything, and use his fists, too.' + +Ten days had passed, and Dr. Rayne, at work in his library, was +disturbed by a knock, and the matron entered. + +'I am sorry to interrupt you, sir, but it is about that new little boy, +Paul Fife. I cannot get him to eat his dinner properly; he seems hungry +at first, and then leaves off--later, I look at his plate and it is +cleared. I find from some of the boys that he puts the greater part of +the meat in his pocket, and, I suppose, throws it away. I thought I had +better come to you.' + +'Certainly; send Fife to me.' + +A timid step, and the small boy came shyly in. + +'Come here, little man,' the Doctor called, pleasantly. 'I want to talk +to you. You are not too big to get on my knee. No, I thought not. You +see, you are one of my little boys now, and we all want to be as happy +as possible. You are very thin; do they give you enough to eat?' + +'Oh, yes, sir,' the child pressed his hands nervously together. + +'And you like what you get, I hope. We have not Burmese and Indian +cooks, you know.' + +'Yes, I like it all, thank you.' + +'And yet Miss Owen tells me you do not eat your dinner, but pocket it--I +hope you don't waste and throw away good food, Paul.' + +'No, sir--indeed, no,' the boy looked up earnestly. + +'Then see that it doesn't happen again, for I don't want to punish you.' + +'Oh, what shall I do--what shall I do?' and to the astonishment of the +doctor, the child covered his face, and his whole body shook with sobs. + +'Control yourself, dear boy. No, I cannot allow such crying, you will +make yourself ill. That is better. Now tell me anything in confidence, +and I will see what can be done.' + +With an effort Paul gradually quieted, and then said: 'Yes, I will tell +you; please--please, I didn't mean to be naughty, but I do love Boh so +much. It is my dog; you saw him, and Uncle Ferrers took him away. I +don't know how he got loose, but several days ago he came running up to +me in the cricket field--he was so thin, and his ear was torn--I was +eating my lunch bun, and I gave him all I had left. He just gobbled it. +When some of the fellows came up, I sent Boh off, and he ran into the +wood, but each day I whistle, when I can get by myself, and he comes; he +is thinner than ever, so now I eat only part of my dinner even if I am +hungry, but I save nearly all the meat for Boh. He is the oldest friend +I have, for Uncle Ferrers says he came with me. He looks often as though +he could speak and tell me whose little boy I used to be. Please, sir, I +can do quite well with half a dinner, if he may have the other.' + +Dr. Rayne stroked the smooth, dark head, deeply touched by the boy's +story. 'There,' he said, 'come with me, and let us see about this dog.' + +So hand in hand child and master passed through the big school +buildings, and out towards the breeze-swept cricket ground. + +'It is a curious name for your dog,' said the Doctor; 'how do you spell +it, B-e-a-u?' + +'Oh, no, sir, B-o-h--it is Burmese. It means "head warrior" or chief +fighting-man. Uncle Ferrers' Sikhs and Pathan soldiers called him that, +because whenever he fought with the pye-dogs or other dogs, Boh always +won. May I call Boh now?' (for they had reached the high ridge near the +wood). + +'Yes; I only hope he is still there.' + +'Boh! Boh!' the clear voice shouted, and then followed endearing words +of Eastern dialect. A few seconds, and a joyful bark announced the +delighted animal, who leapt up rapturously, his paws on the shoulders of +his little master. The boy's eyes shone as he raised them to Dr. Rayne, +fearlessly, but the voice trembled as he urged: 'If I might just see him +now and then, we should neither of us mind so much.' + +'You shall, I will see to it. Now, bring Boh round to the stables, and +John shall find him a kennel and a good dinner. There, there, I didn't +want so many thanks, dear boy; I wish I had thought of it before. Now, +off to your form master, and I shall expect no more complaints from Miss +Owen.' + +So Boh also became a member of Oakwood, and a letter was dispatched at +once to Captain Ferrers relieving his mind as to the missing dog, who +had found his way through so many miles of unknown country safe to his +happy owner. + +(_Concluded on page 90._) + + + + +WONDERFUL CAVERNS. + +III.--THE MAMMOTH CAVE. + + +In the State of Kentucky, in the United States, not far from Louisville, +is a table-land formed of limestone, perforated with holes like a +sponge, down which rain rushes with great force. Far below run rivers, +and there are also still, deep lakes partially fed by the water from +above; and, as might have been expected, here also are the most +wonderful caverns in the world. It is said that to explore all the halls +and galleries communicating with each other, and connected with the +Mammoth Cave alone, it would be necessary to walk or climb one hundred +and fifty miles. This may well be believed when we hear that the cave +contains fifty-seven domes, eleven lakes, seven rivers, eight cataracts, +and two hundred and fifty-six avenues, besides thirty-two pits or +abysses, and a Gothic church. + +The great Mammoth Dome is over four hundred feet high, and light comes +in from above through holes which, at such a height, look like stars +shining in a dark sky. One of the chief lakes is called the Dead Sea, +from its stillness and gloom, and when light is flashed over it from +above it is wonderfully impressive, with its surrounding fringe of +gleaming stalactites. + +A terrible abyss is known as the Bottomless Pit, the depths of which +have never been sounded. On one of its sides rises a huge +crystallisation in the form of a spinning chair, which gleams out from +the surrounding blackness, and is called the Devil's Chair. This +appalling chasm is credited with various terrible tales. One is of two +young lovers who hid in the Mammoth Cave, but finding themselves +pursued, tied themselves together with the girl's girdle, and jumped +into the abyss. However misguided and foolish we may think these young +folk, we can have nothing but pity for two runaway slaves from Alabama, +who, after horrible sufferings and privations in the swamps and forests, +hoped to have found a resting-place in the great cavern. Alas for their +hopes! before long they heard the voices of their pursuers, the cracking +of their heavy whips, the baying of the bloodhounds which had tracked +them to their refuge. Further and further they retreated in the +darkness, only to hear the dreadful sounds draw nearer and nearer, until +they found that they could go no further, as they had arrived at a small +rocky platform overhanging the Bottomless Pit. Before was certain death, +though it was hidden in the horrors of mystery and darkness; behind were +the terrors of a death of protracted agony, as a warning to other +fugitive slaves! One second's hesitation, and then, as their captors +reached out to seize their prey, the despairing men leapt from the rock +into the awful pit. + +One very singular cave is known as the Church, and is curiously like the +crypt of an English Cathedral, such as Gloucester or Canterbury. It is +very nearly the same size as the latter. Here stalactites and +stalagmites of colossal size have joined to form pillars, united by +Norman arches, with wonderful effect. Religious services have often been +held in this veritable 'temple not made with hands.' + +Indian mummies have been met with in parts of the cavern, proving that +it was known to native tribes in past ages. The skeleton of a mastodon, +an extinct form of elephant, stands in one of the great halls, and a few +live creatures still inhabit the gloomy depths. A cave-rat as large as a +rabbit was caught, which, although it had very bright eyes, was quite +blind when taken from the cave; but after a month's experience of +daylight it gradually began to make use of its eyes. Various kinds of +eyeless fish and crabs live in the dark waters, and a live frog was seen +wearing an unhappy expression of countenance. + +The slow rate at which stalagmites grow has been tested in this cavern +by a lantern which was dropped in 1812 and found cemented to the floor +in 1843, since which its upward progress has been carefully watched. The +Mammoth Cave contains immense quantities of nitre. During the great +American Civil War, most of that used was found here, and as gunpowder +contains two-thirds of nitre to all its other ingredients, these caverns +were of great value to the nation. The Mammoth Cave is now private +property, belonging to Dr. John Crogan, who gave ten thousand dollars +for it. + +HELENA HEATH. + +[Illustration: The Mammoth Cave Kentucky] + +[Illustration: "'I don't remember seeing a boy.'"] + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 76._) + +CHAPTER X. + + +Beyond the meadow lay a field of wheat, tall and yellow, although not +yet quite ripe for the sickle. Stooping until my hands almost touched +the ground, I ran as fast as possible under the shelter of the friendly +hedge, until, reaching the cornfield, I scrambled through another hedge, +and lay down on my face amidst the wheat. + +But still it was impossible to feel in the slightest degree safe, the +road being only a few yards distant, while I distinctly heard the sound +of approaching wheels. If it had not been for the bend in the lane, I +should scarcely have been able to delay capture many minutes, and even +as it was, I lay quaking while I wondered whether Mr. Turton would be +able to see me from the road. + +The cab passed my hiding-place, however, so that I began to hope it +might not be going to stop, until on the point of rising, I heard the +horse pulled up, heard the door opened, and recognised Mr. Turton's +voice as he told Augustus to alight. + +'The boy must be hiding somewhere hereabouts,' he exclaimed. + +'He might easily have got into that wood,' said Augustus, and I +regretted that in my haste I had not taken to the wood on the other side +of the road. + +While Augustus and his father must have gone to inspect the woods, I +heard the sound of an approaching motor-car, and guessed that it had +stopped close to the cab on the other side of the hedge. + +I lay on my face with the thick wheat growing high all around, my eyes +raised to the hedge, above which I could see the top of a man's straw +hat. I supposed that his motor-car had broken down, but at any rate, his +companion alighted and came on to the raised path, so that I could see +her hat and face. + +She looked about my own age, although she must have been unusually tall. +Young as she was, she wore a thick veil, which she had turned back under +the brim of her white hat. A quantity of fair hair hung loose, and she +had dark, rather mischievous, but friendly-looking eyes. + +The next moment I heard Mr. Turton and Augustus returning from the wood, +to inquire whether the driver of the motor-car had seen any one +answering to my description. For the car had been coming to meet the +cab, as if the driver were making for Polehampton. + +'A boy of about fifteen,' said Mr. Turton, as they all drew nearer to +the hedge. 'I saw him--I am almost certain it was he--about this spot. +Then I lost him in the bend of the lane, and I thought it was possible +that you might have seen him running to meet you.' + +'I don't remember seeing a boy,' was the answer; 'but then, this +wretched car is enough to occupy all my attention. Did you see a boy, +Jacintha?' he added. + +'No, Uncle,' she answered, and I thought what a strange name it was--one +which I certainly had not heard before. 'Has he run away from school?' +she asked, with obvious interest, the next moment. + +'Yes,' said Mr. Turton, while I could imagine Augustus's snigger; 'he +has caused me an immense deal of trouble, and I am extremely anxious to +take him back with me--extremely anxious.' + +While I lay in the wheat, able to see the tops of their heads as they +moved closer to the hedge, it did not seem altogether improbable that +Mr. Turton would gain his wish; and while he was still discussing me +with the driver of the motor-car, whom 'Jacintha' had addressed as +'Uncle,' the girl came quite close to the hedge, turning to look at the +ripening corn. As my eyes were upraised, they looked straight into +hers, which seemed to hold them as if I were fascinated. + +Now, I thought, everything is over with me! I had not realised that I +could be so easily seen by any one looking down into the field from the +higher path. Jacintha was evidently startled; she stepped abruptly +backwards, as I supposed, to tell Mr. Turton that she had found the +object of his search. I was already making up my mind how to act. Mr. +Turton was unlikely to be a very swift runner, while I knew that I could +give Augustus a pretty good start. The moment Jacintha came back to the +hedge to point out my hiding-place I determined to rise from the ground, +dart towards the adjoining field where the sheep were pastured, and +taking a line across country, at the worst I would lead them all a good +chase before I gave in. + +A second later, though it seemed a long second in my suspense, Jacintha +returned to the hedge and again looked down into my upturned face. +Gradually her lips parted in a smile, and then my heart began to thump +against my ribs, for I knew that she was not going to betray me. As I +smiled back in my relief, she nodded her head ever so slightly, and +turning, walked away from the hedge. + +'Why don't you drive on to Barton?' she cried, raising her voice, I +supposed, for my especial benefit. + +'Barton? How far is that?' asked Mr. Turton. + +'Five miles, isn't it, Uncle?' she answered. + +'Five and a half,' he said. 'You keep bearing to your right.' + +'But,' suggested Augustus, 'I feel certain Everard disappeared about +here.' + +'Is that his name?' asked Jacintha. + +'Yes, Jack Everard.' + +'Perhaps he has gone down through a trap-door,' said Jacintha with a +laugh, and Augustus sniggered in return. How I wished there had only +been Augustus to deal with, with perhaps Jacintha to look on during the +process. But it would not have been his boots that I should have +blacked! + +'Uncle!' cried Jacintha, 'do you remember the steep lane we passed on +our left?--that would be on your right,' she added, evidently turning to +Mr. Turton. + +'What about it?' he asked. + +'There was a finger-post which said "Pathway to Barton." If they were to +take that path don't you think they would get to Barton more quickly?' + +'Why, yes, of course,' was the answer. + +'Then,' said Mr. Turton, 'if we follow the road, we might be able to +intercept the boy. I am very much obliged to this young lady. But in +case you should see him after all,' he continued, 'allow me to give you +this card. If you could manage to detain him while you communicate with +me at Castlemore you would confer the greatest favour.' + +I could not catch the answer, but a few minutes later, I heard the +cab-door shut and knew that Mr. Turton and Augustus, thanks to Jacintha, +had been driven off in the direction of Barton, five and a half miles +distant. So that they would have eleven miles to drive before they +returned to this spot, leaving me at least two hours (reckoning for the +search at Barton and so forth) to make good my escape. + +In the meantime the motor-car still continued to make strange noises, +and every now and then its owner gave vent to curious exclamations. + +'Don't you think,' suggested Jacintha, 'it would be best to try to get +as far as the farrier's we passed opposite the footpath to Barton?' + +'Upon my word, I almost think it would!' was the answer. 'Come, suppose +you take your seat.' + +'Oh!' cried Jacintha, 'but if you don't mind I think I would sooner +walk--it is not far, you know.' + +So a few moments later the motor-car made stranger noises than ever and +moved away, evidently with difficulty, and when it had gone a little +distance Jacintha came to the hedge again. + +'It's all right now,' she cried, and rising I came to the edge of the +field. + +'I am most awfully obliged to you,' I said. + +'What made you run away?' she asked eagerly. + +'I was not going to stand all that,' I answered. + +'All what?' she asked. + +'I don't think I had better stay,' I said. 'Because they might change +their minds and come back.' + +But Jacintha shook her head. + +'I don't think they will,' she answered. 'Because I heard him tell the +driver to go to Barton. What shall you do?' she asked. + +'I shall go to the left as they have gone to the right.' + +'I wish we could give you a lift,' she cried. + +'Where are you going?' I inquired. + +'You see,' she explained, 'I really live in London, only I am staying +now with my uncle and aunt--I always come to stay with them in the +summer.' + +'Do you live near here?' + +'Why,' she returned, 'we have come miles and miles this morning. My +uncle has just bought a motor-car--a beauty. We started quite +early--soon after seven, and it began to rain just before, so my aunt +wouldn't come. We were going to Polehampton, and we have broken down +lots of times, though we get along splendidly in between.' + +'I slept at Polehampton last night,' I said. + +'Where are you going?' she asked. + +'To London.' + +'Why didn't you take the train?' inquired Jacintha. + +'You see I had no money,' I explained. 'I sold my watch and chain, but a +tramp robbed me.' + +'Where do your people live in London?' she asked. + +'I have no people.' + +'Oh, I am sorry!' she exclaimed. 'What are you going to do?' + +'Well,' I said, 'I don't quite know till I get there.' + +Jacintha's face grew very solemn. + +'I wish I could tell Uncle,' she said. 'You know he is most awfully +nice, only I am afraid he might put you in the motor-car and drive after +the cab--we could catch it easily if we tried.' + +'Yes, of course,' I answered. + +'Uncle will be wondering why I am so long,' she continued. 'I expect we +shall go straight back now the motor-car has gone wrong.' + +'Where to?' I inquired, from sheer curiosity to learn as much about her +as possible. + +'Uncle lives at Colebrook Park,' she answered. + +'Where is that?' + +'About a mile this side of Hazleton,' she said, on the point of going +away. 'I do hope those people won't catch you,' she continued, 'and that +you will reach London all right, though it doesn't seem much use if you +haven't got any people. I never knew any one who had run away before,' +she added, regarding me with evident interest, and with that to my great +regret Jacintha walked away. + +'Thank you ever so much,' I cried, and then in order to see the last of +her, I came round into the road, standing on the path watching until a +bend took her out of sight. Even then I did not at once set out on my +journey, but, having taken the precaution to bring some bread and cheese +in my pocket, I sat down to eat it, near the spot where Jacintha had +recently stood, when I saw something shining on the path. + +Taking it in my hand, I found that it was a heart-shaped locket, which +doubtless belonged to Jacintha. I imagined that she had worn it +suspended from a chain round her neck, that it had caught in one of the +twigs of the hedge and been broken off when she started back in +astonishment on first seeing me lying amidst the corn. + +Ignoring any possible risk from her uncle, I now thought only of +returning the locket, and accordingly set forth at a run, nor stopped +until I reached the farrier's shop, opposite the footpath to Barton. +Then I saw, to my extreme disappointment, no sign of a motor-car before +the door. + +(_Continued on page 94._) + + + + +A STORY OF STANLEY. + + +Sir H. M. Stanley, the famous African explorer, once had a strange and +unpleasant experience, from which he was saved by his presence of mind +and readiness of resource. He was travelling in Africa, and had to stay +some time at a village. The people here were extremely ignorant and +superstitious and quite unused to the ways of white men. After a time +some of them noticed him making entries in his note book--for this was +new country to him, and it was important that he should remember what he +saw--and not understanding what he was doing they jumped to the +conclusion that he was bewitching them in some mysterious way. This +report spread all over the village, and a crowd of about five hundred +savages collected, and threatened to kill the explorer at once unless he +destroyed the book. Stanley was, naturally, very unwilling to give up +all the notes which had cost him so much trouble and danger to collect, +but on the other hand it would be very much worse to lose his life. +Suddenly he had a bright idea. He happened to have with him a volume of +Shakespeare's plays: he thought that in all probability the savages +would not know one book from another, so he offered it to them instead +of his note-book. The natives were quite taken in. They accepted the +Shakespeare, and, amid much rejoicing, burnt it to ashes, thus breaking, +as they thought, the spell that Stanley had cast upon them. + +[Illustration: "They burnt the Shakespeare, breaking the spell."] + +[Illustration: "He deliberately lighted a cigar with a scrap of the +burning rope."] + + + + +THE CAPTAIN'S CIGAR. + + +The ship was on fire! The boats were lowered, and were quickly filled by +the terrified passengers and crew. Amid the general excitement, the +captain alone remained cool and collected, and when the time came for +him to follow the others, he did a very curious thing. Before descending +the ladder into the boat, he shouted to his sailors, 'Hold on for a +minute!' Then he drew a cigar from his pocket, and deliberately lighted +it with a scrap of the burning rope which lay close by. This done, he +went down steadily and slowly, and ordered his men to push off. + +One of the passengers asked him afterwards, 'How could you stop at such +a moment to light a cigar?' + +'Because,' replied the captain, 'it seemed to me that unless I did +something to divert the minds of the people in the boat, there would +probably be a panic. Then the boat would have been upset, for, as you +know, it was over-crowded. My seemingly strange act attracted your +attention. Watching me, you forgot your fright and your own danger for +the moment, and so we got off in safety.' + +Apparent folly is sometimes wisdom in disguise. + +E. D. + + + + +THE PUFF-ADDER. + + +The Puff-adder is the most common, as well as the most deadly, of +African snakes. It is generally about four feet long; the evil-looking +head is broad and flat, while the body, which is as thick as a man's +arm, tapers very suddenly towards the tail. The puff-adder is of a +uniform brown colour, checked with bars of darker brown and white. It is +slow and torpid in all its movements, and is peculiarly dangerous from +its habit of lying half buried in the sandy track, not caring to move +out of the way of passers-by, as other snakes generally do; still, if +not molested or trodden upon, it does not attack man. If any unfortunate +creature, however, should be bitten by this reptile, death occurs in a +few hours. When irritated or alarmed, this snake has the power of +swelling out the whole body, from which fact it derives its popular +name. + + + + +McLEOD OF CLERE. + +(_Concluded from page 83._) + +III. + + +It was Sports day at Oakwood School, a glorious 18th of June. Guests +were gathering from near and far, and every lodging and primitive inn in +the neighbouring villages was reaping a harvest from the invasion of +relatives and friends of boys past and present. On the school tower, a +landmark for miles, the house flag and the Union Jack floated proudly. +The hundred boys looked a goodly sight below, clad alike in white with +varying racing colours in broad sashes and ties. + +It was Paul Fife's third term, and he had just been welcoming Captain +Ferrers. 'I must go directly,' said the boy; 'I am in the sack race for +boys under twelve. I must tie Boh up first, or he will come rushing +after me and spoil my chance.' + +Alert and active, Paul hurried off, and Captain Ferrers joined Dr. +Rayne. + +'So glad you think we are taking care of him,' said the Doctor. 'He is a +favourite with us all; not quite a typical English boy yet, though. I am +glad to see so many "old boys" here to-day, and parents too. Bless me, +there's General McLeod of Clere; I have not seen him for years. It must +bring back many sad memories: his son was here years ago, a splendid +fellow--his death was a terrible blow,' and Dr. Rayne went off to speak +to his old friend. + +The bell rang for the sack race, and there was a general movement to the +starting-post, where the eight small boys in for the final were +standing, each tied up to the neck in his sack, ready for the start. The +old General was keenly interested, and was standing immediately behind +Paul. + +The master starter yielded to the request, 'May we have our caps off?' +and uncovered one after the other each little competitor's head. General +McLeod made a hurried exclamation as the dark head before him was bared. +Paul heard him, but had no time to look round, for with an 'Are you +ready?--are you ready?--off!' the boys were started. Blundering, +tumbling, struggling up again, they rounded the opposite post, and came +hopping in, Paul an easy first. As he touched the winning tape, his +uplifted face beaming with pride, the old General turned white to the +lips, and stretching out his trembling hand he laid it on the head of +the laughing boy, and gasped uncertainly, 'Miguel Sarreco!' + + * * * * * + +There was very earnest talk in the Head Master's study that night, +between Dr. Rayne and the General and Captain Ferrers, glad of a quiet +hour at last. + +'If I might suggest it,' said Dr. Rayne, 'you should tell your story +first, General; it may throw light on small things, which otherwise may +escape my friend Ferrers's notice and remembrance of all concerning this +poor little child.' + +'I quite agree with you, and will reserve my story until after,' and +Captain Ferrers sat down, listening eagerly while the General began. + +'I must go back many years. My wife, as you know, Rayne, was of +Portuguese descent, an ancestor of hers having married a senora in +Lisbon, after the Peninsular war. She (my wife) inherited a little +property there, and in some business connected with it I had met, at +different times, a far distant connection of hers, Don Manuel Sarreco, +with whom I became fast friends. About fifteen years ago I received an +urgent message to go to him at once. I travelled day and night, only to +find him dying--he had been mortally wounded in a duel. He knew me, and +urged on me his last request, to take his two children and bring them up +as my own in England. I hesitated, but his entreaties and the love I had +for him prevailed, and I took on myself the charge. The eldest was a +beautiful girl of seventeen, Miguel two years younger. They were +wonderfully alike, only in the boy's case the raven black hair had a +lock of white on one side, the "Sarreco streak," as it was proudly +called, which appeared in the family generation after generation. I +brought the children home with certain of their most cherished +possessions, some fine riding-horses, and a pair of curious dogs of +Andalusian breed. + +'My son, Hugh (as you know) had joined the army, and having helped in +the final subjugation of Burmah, was then stationed at Mandalay, in +command of native troops. I sent the boy Miguel to Harton, and Inez +rapidly picked up English at home. Two years later Hugh returned, as he +had obtained a year's leave. To make a long story short, he fell in love +with Inez, and they were married before he returned to Burmah. + +'I ought to mention that, some months before, the addition of two fine +puppies of the Andalusian stock had become the pride of our kennels: +they were born the day of the wedding of the Princess Louise with the +Duke of Fife, and were unanimously christened "Fife" and "Louise." The +dog I saw to-day was the same breed. When Hugh and Inez went away, Fife +was an important part of the luggage. We went to see them on board, +waving good-byes as the vessel steamed away, and I never saw them +again.' + +The General's voice faltered and failed, but soon he resumed: 'You may +perhaps remember the sad bathing accident at Harton School, of which no +one quite knew the end. Miguel Sarreco was one of the two boys drowned; +his dog, Louise, had apparently tried to save him, for their bodies were +washed in together some hours after the accident. The boy had been the +only young one left with us at Clere: he was the darling of us all. +Judge, therefore, the shock I felt to-day when a face like his looked +into mine, and his own dog apparently jumped as formerly round him. + +'Inez was so shocked by the news that a change from Mandalay was +suggested, and Hugh obtained the command of Fort Sardu, one of the +outpost stations in the Shan States. The Dacoit attack on this fort you +will remember. We were just rejoicing over a letter from Hugh, telling +of the birth of a little son, when we were stunned by the ghastly news +of the massacre of every living soul at Fort Sardu. + +'I travelled out to Burmah at once, hoping against hope. But all had +perished. A sentry near the jungle alone was living, sorely wounded. +When questioned, he was delirious, but just before he died he had +quieted, and said that Pahna, the Karen woman, had got away into the +jungle, but her arm was wounded, and as she went he heard the wailing of +a child, and a dog with burning hair had rushed out from one of the huts +after her. No one could say if it was truth or delirium, but every +inquiry was made. No such woman had been heard of, nor had she returned +to any of the Karen encampments, so if she had got away she must have +died in the jungle, they said. The body of an infant had been seen among +the dead at the fort and buried with the others, so that the sentry's +tale seemed but a myth. + +'Many months later, a letter, delayed some while, reached me from my +boy. It had been written the day after the child's birth apparently. I +have it here. After some private matter he says: "Our little son is a +fine fellow, very dark, and his thick black hair has the 'Sarreco +streak' very visible, which Inez is absurdly delighted at. The English +nurse has jungle fever, and is kept away, but Pahna, the Karen woman, is +a splendid substitute: she is the wife of my faithful native servant. +Pahna is devoted to 'Bebe Ingalay.' Her English is curious; Inez she +usually called 'Missee Sahib,' but now she has got to 'Missee Mahkloo,' +'Thakin Mahkloo' meaning me--her nearest rendering of McLeod." You +start, Captain Ferrers?' + +'Yes; I will say why presently--please go on,' said Captain Ferrers. 'I +cannot say how interested I am.' + +'The letter goes on,' resumed the General: '"Inez hung the Ragged Cross, +the 'Sarreco badge,' round the baby's neck for a few moments to dub him +true 'Sarreco.' Pahna looks on it as a charm especially his own, and +hangs it over his cot. 'Fife' watches the little one jealously, so he is +well protected." + +'That is practically all,' said the General, folding the thin letter +reverently with hands that trembled; 'but I feel surer and surer--my +heart tells me that the little boy Paul Fife must be my own flesh and +blood. He is Miguel Sarreco's very image: the same haughty poise of the +head, and lean, sinewy body; but when he speaks, the voice is my son's, +and the curve of the lips his also.' + +'I think I can help you,' said Captain Ferrers, rising. 'I have here in +my pocket-book the exact description of the finding the dying woman and +the child in the jungle as given me by the Tounghi, "Maung Yet"--he is +still to be found, I believe, if more is required. Her dying words over +and over were as you see: "Thakin Ingalay--Bebe--Mah Kloo." He took the +last to be the woman's own name, and impressed me with the same idea. +But it must be meant for Macleod. This alone, coupled with the white +lock of hair, is almost proof-positive. But still further, the dog was +there, and on his brass collar (which I removed at once, not to risk +losing it) was the word "Fife," the name of his owner, we thought, and +so we called the child Fife too. Last, but not least, I believe I have +in safe keeping the veritable "Sarreco badge" you mention, a curious +kind of gold cross, fastened to a thin gold chain. Maung Yet gave it to +me as a charm found on the dead woman. I may add that these Karen women +are wonderfully faithful; probably both husband and her own infant were +slain early in the fight, and she had alone been able to take away the +English baby, and had carried him all those weary miles, saving him only +to die herself. The hardships endured are terrible to think of.' + +There was a pause--the old General's head was bowed over his clasped +hands. Then he rose to his full height and said: 'It is quite enough to +assure me of what I felt sure of before. I thank God for all His mercy! +and now I should just like to kiss my little grandson before I go. I +will be here again early to-morrow.' + +Captain Ferrers and Dr. Rayne, both frequent visitors at Clere, assert +that the General grows younger. It may well be so, for the dark clouds +of sorrow have lifted, and the sun shines for him with the laughter of a +happy child. He can look hopefully forward now to life's evening. He is +not the last of the McLeods. + +MARTIA. + +[Illustration: "They came hopping in, Paul an easy first."] + + + + +THE STARTLED HARES. + + + Four hares were at dinner one day-- + The sweetest of herbage was theirs-- + And as they all nibbled away + They seemed to be rid of their cares; + For the grass was so green and the sky was so blue, + They had plenty to eat and nothing to do. + + The sun shone so brightly that day, + They did not think danger was near; + The hunters and dogs were away, + There was nothing around to cause fear. + When, alas! from the sky there dropped with a plump, + A something which made their poor hearts give a jump. + +[Illustration: + + "After all, I will wait-- + I must hurry off home, it is getting quite late!"] + + Poor Fred was knocked backward at once, + And Charlie fell flat on the ground, + While Peter stretched out his long legs + And fled without making a sound; + But Tom, who was boastful, cried, 'Stop! Don't you see, + It is only a kite from its string broken free! + + 'Just let me catch hold of that boy, + I'll give him a box on the ear-- + I'll teach him to fly his old kite + Beside us, to cause us such fear.... + Why, there _is_ the boy! After all, I will wait-- + I must hurry off home, it is getting quite late!' + + Then off with a rush went brave Tom, + His heart beating loud with dismay; + While Charlie, and Peter, and Fred + Cried, 'Isn't Tom valiant to-day?' + And the boy shook with laughter to see Tom in flight, + For he knew that fine words never drive away fright! + +D. B. M. + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 87._) + +CHAPTER XI. + + +The blacksmith, a tall, broad-shouldered man, wearing a leather apron, +stood at the door with a hammer in his right hand, his shop being a kind +of barn beneath a tall elm-tree, directly opposite the narrow lane, with +a board signifying that it was a footpath to Barton. It was exactly the +place I should have selected in order to get away from the main road had +I known of its existence. + +'Has the motor-car gone?' I inquired, stopping in front of the +blacksmith's. + +'Don't see much sign of it, do you?' he answered, rather gruffly. + +'How long ago did it start?' I asked. + +'About a quarter of an hour,' said the smith, and I saw that it would be +useless to think of following it in the hope of overtaking Jacintha. +Perhaps it was just as well, as she had suggested that her uncle might +take me forcibly back to Mr. Turton, whose eagerness to bring me once +more to Castlemore still furnished matter for surprise. + +But still, even if I ran some risk, I was determined to lose no time in +returning the locket to its owner, who had certainly done me a good +turn. My direction, which a little while ago had appeared uncertain, was +now decided for me, and henceforth, instead of directing my steps +towards London, I aimed at reaching Hazleton, whence the journey could +be continued with greater safety from pursuit. + +'Can you tell me how far it is to Hazleton?' I asked before moving on +from the smithy. + +'Jim,' cried the blacksmith, turning towards a man who was hammering a +horse-shoe, 'here's the champion walker wants to know how far to +Hazleton.' + +'About thirty miles,' said Jim. + +'Which is the way?' I demanded. + +'Bear to your left till you come to the main road,' said the smith, +'then take the left again.' + +Having thanked the man, I walked on, still looking sharply out for Mr. +Turton's cab, until I came to a small village with a green, on which a +few boys were playing cricket. Here there were two forked roads, and +after staying five minutes to watch the game, I followed that to the +left. I took the precaution to place the locket in my empty watch-pocket +for greater safety, and as I left the village behind, I took out all the +money in my possession--four shillings and sevenpence--and counted it, +although I knew perfectly well what it amounted to. Even if the weather +remained fine, which appeared extremely doubtful, I could not hope to +reach Hazleton in less than two days, and then I must hang about the +entrance to Colebrook Park until I succeeded in seeing Jacintha alone. +As to what was to happen after that, I did not trouble myself; Hazleton +had now become my fixed destination, and by securing a free bed in the +open air for two nights, I reckoned it would be possible to fare well on +the way. + +Now that I had set my back towards Barton, I felt perfectly safe from +Mr. Turton, and the road became so hilly and beautiful, with woods and +undulating fields on each hand, that it soon began to engage all my +attention. Villages came close together, and, indeed, the only drawback +that afternoon was the lowering sky, which certainly foreboded a bad +night. + +At about five o'clock I passed through a kind of model village, with +some quaint cottages and a few nourishing shops, in one of whose windows +I saw some extremely tempting-looking small pork pies. Having eaten only +bread and cheese for dinner, I was beginning to feel ravenously hungry, +so, entering the shop, I inquired the price. + +'Twopence each,' said the girl behind the counter, 'fresh made this +morning.' + +'I will have one,' I answered, when it occurred to me that if I was +going to sleep out of doors, it might be wise to buy two, keeping one in +reserve for supper. Then I asked for a glass of milk, and as there was a +penny change out of sixpence, I bought a large cake of chocolate. + +On leaving the shop, the sky looked blacker and more threatening than +ever, and I wondered whether Jacintha and her uncle had arrived home +yet. Eating one of the pork pies as I walked on, I followed it by half +the cake of chocolate, and then the rain began, with large drops, which +made me dread a thunder-storm. + +After a little while the rain ceased, however, and quickening my steps, +I began to think I should be driven to pay for a night's lodging after +all. Presently I came to a kind of open moor, covered with bracken, +bramble, and brilliant patches of heath. A rabbit scampered across the +road, but there was no one to be seen, although a railway ran close at +hand through a cutting on the right. I could see the tops of the +signal-posts and hear the rush of passing trains now and then. When I +had walked a mile or more across the moor, the rain began again with +flashes of vivid lightning and long rolls of thunder. I turned up my +collar and buttoned my jacket, which was soon nearly wet through, and at +last stood up in the wet bracken under a beech-tree. A more vivid flash +of lightning, however, reminded me that I had heard of the danger of +standing beneath trees in storms; so, plunging into the deluge again, I +followed the road up a steep hill, in the hope of seeing a village, or +some kind of shelter, from the crest. + +But the only human habitation in sight was a solitary house, which +looked curious enough amidst those lonely surroundings. It stood at the +corner of a cross-road still several hundred yards distant, a +new-looking house, built of red bricks, with a tiled roof, with a garden +and railings in front. Determined to find shelter somewhere, I set off +down the hill at a run, and, as I drew near the house, rejoiced to see +that it was apparently empty. By the iron railings stood a black board, +announcing that it was to be let unfurnished, while the wisps of straw +about the path seemed to show that the tenants had but recently forsaken +it, because of its lonely situation, no doubt. Opening the gate, I went +up the stone steps and stood beneath a small porch before its front +door, where at least I was out of the rain, which now poured down in +torrents. On each side of the small porch was a shelf, evidently +intended to support flower-pots, and underneath one of the shelves I saw +an old sack. + +This I picked up and examined, and finding that it was not very dirty, I +thought there could be no harm in taking possession of it, for if the +rain continued, the sack would serve the purpose of a cape to protect my +shoulders. Placing it round them at once, I stood gazing at the rain, +while the evening gradually darkened. The thunder sounded as if it were +exactly overhead, and the lightning seemed to dance around me. Presently +I began to wonder how to pass the night, since it would be madness to +leave this shelter in the deluge, while yet I could not very comfortably +remain where I was. + +It must have been between seven and eight o'clock when a happy thought +occurred. How idiotic to feel doubtful where to sleep when here was a +whole house apparently at my disposal! It could not injure anybody if I +made it a shelter for myself for the night, whereas it would be an +immense boon to have a roof over one's head until the rain +ceased--although it looked as if it never would leave off. + +Drawing the sack over my head, I came forth from my shelter and +inspected the front of the house, only to find that every window was +securely fastened. Going round to the side gate of lattice-work, I found +it unlocked, however, and made my way at once to the back garden. There, +by great good fortune, was a window with the bottom pane broken, and +having enlarged the hole, I was able to put in a hand and push back the +fastener, so that to open the window and effect an entrance was the work +of a few seconds. + +Having shut the window, I looked about, and saw that I stood in a kind +of breakfast-room, entirely empty; but on going to the adjoining +kitchen, there was a heap of shavings and paper by a packing-case in one +corner, and on this I determined to make a bed. The rain still pelted, +the thunder rolled, and the lightning flashed, while the interior of the +house seemed dismal and oppressive, I confess to a feeling of timidity +which I had not experienced since I left Castlemore--such as, indeed, I +had scarcely been conscious of in my life before. The evening was +already dark, and the night promised to be absolutely black. When I went +to the kitchen door and looked out into the stone-floored passage, I +could scarcely see my hand before me, and there was no means of +obtaining a light. + +Returning to the kitchen, I shut the door, and, making the most of the +still remaining light, I began to prepare my bed for the night, but as I +turned the shavings a mouse ran over my hand, and for the moment I felt +so startled that I walked to the farther side of the room. + +There I began to persuade myself that there was no danger to be feared +from a mouse, and presently, returning to the corner, I shook out the +shavings and pieces of paper until they somewhat resembled the shape of +a bed. A few minutes later, however, it seemed to become suddenly black, +save when the flashes of lightning lighted the room, for, of course, the +windows were without blinds. Sitting down on the bed, I determined to +eat my supper and try to sleep, not caring how early I woke, so long as +it was daylight. I congratulated myself on the possession of the second +pork-pie and the chocolate, and lest the morning should prove as wet as +the night, I only ate half of my provender, although I could very +readily have dispatched the whole. + +Then, having taken off my boots and spread the sack out to dry, I said +my prayers and lay down at full length; but, instead of falling asleep +at once, my thoughts turned to the past, and I seemed to live over again +every interview I had ever had with Captain Knowlton. When I remembered +his cheerful personality, it seemed impossible to realise that he could +be dead, and yet by this time I had not the slightest hope of ever +seeing him again. I tried to dwell on Mr. Bosanquet's encouraging words, +but it was useless to-night as I lay watching the lightning; and, +oppressed by grief at Captain Knowlton's loss, I could not keep back a +few tears. Then I must have fallen asleep, for, I know not how much +later, although the kitchen was still in total blackness, I found myself +sitting up, and thinking for the moment that I was back in my room with +Smythe and the other fellows at Mr. Turton's. Before I had quite +realised the actual surroundings, I grew cold from head to foot, with +that uncomfortable sensation called goose-flesh, as if every individual +hair were standing on end. My teeth began to chatter as I strained my +ears to listen. + +There could be no doubt about it. I could distinctly hear a low, pitiful +weeping apparently just above my head. That the sounds came from some +human being in intense distress I entertained no doubt whatever, and +yet, inconsistently enough, I felt frightened out of my wits. Rising, I +felt my way by the empty dresser to the door, and there stood listening. +Still the melancholy sound continued; such a dismal wailing as I had +never heard before. How I longed for the day to break, or even for the +lightning, which had now ceased, although in unison with the sounds of +continuous weeping I heard the rain beating against the window-panes. + +Afraid to open the door, feeling that I would gladly endure any penalty +in exchange for a box of matches, I did not make the least attempt to go +to sleep again, but stood close to the kitchen window on the look-out +for the first sign of dawn. Never had time seemed to pass so slowly. The +sounds of mice in one corner made me shudder, and for once in my life I +was thoroughly and shamefully terrified. + +The first shade of grey on the ceiling caused a feeling of intense +relief, and I began to upbraid myself for timidity. As the light gained +brightness, courage returned, and when at last it was day, although +nothing could have appeared much more dismal than the outlook from the +window, I determined to pull myself together and to make a tour of +inspection. + +(_Continued on page 102._) + +[Illustration: Alone in the Empty House.] + +[Illustration: The Best Beginning] + + + + +THE BEST BEGINNING. + + +Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, was not only an excellent ruler and +fine general, but deeply religious. + +On one occasion, at the beginning of a great war, he landed his troops +in Germany. Directly he landed in the early morning, after giving some +necessary orders to some of his officers, he retired a few paces from +them and knelt down to pray. He noticed that this action on his part +appeared to surprise some of his men; whereupon he said, 'The man who +has finished his prayers has done one half of his daily work.' + + + + +PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS. + +5.--ARITHMOGRAPH. + +A word of ten letters; a woman's name. + +1.--4, 8, 7, 10. A great river. +2.--7, 1, 3, 4. Not fat. +3.--7, 8, 10, 5, 6. A vassal, or the lord to whom he is bound. +4.--2, 1, 3, 7. Young meat. +5.--2, 8, 7, 10. Very bad. +6.--9, 3, 8, 7. A horny substance; and a small, pointed piece of metal. +7.--5, 6, 4, 10, 2, 3. A city in Switzerland. +8.--9, 3, 2, 10. The body of a church. +9.--5, 3, 8, 9.--Something obtained. + +C. J. B. + +[_Answer on page 130._] + + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON PAGE 58. + +3.--1. Bucharest. + 2. Rouen. + 3. Brunswick. + 4. Budapest. + 5. Santiago. + 6. San Francisco. + 7. Benares. + 8. Prague + 9. Valparaiso. + 10. Nantes. + +4.--Amble-side, in the Lake District, near which place lived Wordsworth, +Dr. Arnold, and Harriet Martineau. + + + + +THE INDIAN'S CONSCIENCE. + + +An Indian once asked his neighbour for some tobacco. The neighbour put +his hand in his pocket and gave him a handful. The next morning the +Indian came again, and brought a quarter-dollar which he had found +between the tobacco. The neighbour was surprised at such honesty, and +asked the Indian why he had not kept the money. + +'It is just like this,' he answered. 'In my heart I have a good man and +a bad man. The good man said, "The money does not belong to you; give it +back to its owner." The bad man said, "It has been given to you; it +belongs to you." The good man replied, "That is not true, and such +conduct is evil; the tobacco belongs to you, but the money belongs to +him who has given it away by mistake; you must give it back again." The +bad man answered, "Think no more about it, and do not let such a trifle +disturb you. Keep the money." I was in doubt as to which voice of my +heart I should listen to. At last I lay down in bed, but the good man +and the bad man quarrelled so all the night in my heart that I had no +peace, so I felt obliged to bring you back your money.' + + + + +THE LIME OR LINDEN. + + +The Lime, or Linden, is very notable amongst our trees on account of its +beauty and usefulness, and also because it will grow anywhere. It is +especially a London tree, for we see it in parks, squares, many private +gardens, and along some roads in the metropolis. But the smoke of London +seldom allows the tree to attain its full size. Often the stroller in +July, passing along a road or lane, becomes suddenly aware of a +delicious scent floating upon the summer breeze. He looks up, to find +this perfume comes from a lime, putting forth its clusters of flowers +upon their leafy branches--flowers to which, by day or night, crowds of +bees, flies, and other insects resort. About the suburbs of London the +lively sparrows often have their assemblies in lime or plane-trees; and +in most years, the London limes, towards autumn, put forth a few fresh +leaves. + +The lime is a hardy tree, and flourishes even in the cold regions of +Sweden and Russia. It is supposed to have been introduced to Britain by +the Romans, who brought trees and plants into these islands from various +countries where the Roman banners had been carried. Amongst the Swiss, +this tree has been regarded as an emblem of liberty, and planted for a +memorial. From the lime, called in Sweden 'lind,' the greatest of our +early botanists took his name; it was chosen by him because a large +lime-tree overhung his father's house, and so he has always been known +as Linnaeus. + +'Linden' comes from the Swedish name, but 'lime' is an ignorant mistake, +which cannot be altered now. Properly, the tree belongs to the citron +family, akin to the orange and lemon, and the other name of the linden +seems at first to have been 'line,' because the bark was used for making +cord and other lines. + +From 'bast,' as the inner bark is called, a great number of mats are +made in Russia, and sent all over Europe; a small quantity is also woven +in Lincolnshire and Monmouthshire. Hats and shoes have been made from +lime-bark, and the solid wood is serviceable in many ways. It has +supplied bowls, plates, sounding-boards for pianos; and some beautiful +carving--that of Gibbons, for example--has been executed in lime-wood. +It is white, but very tough when properly dried. + +A handsome tree when solitary, the lime is particularly beautiful in an +avenue. There is a famous avenue of large size at Ware Park, and another +remarkable one in the Cathedral yard at Winchester. + + + + +CRUISERS IN THE CLOUDS. + +III.--PROFESSOR CHARLES' FIRST VOYAGE. + + +Notwithstanding the superior power of Professor Charles' gas balloon, +the Montgolfiers stuck to their hot air, 'for,' said they, 'see how much +cheaper it is, and how much more quickly the balloon can be +inflated--about ten minutes against three days.' So, in answer to +frequent demands, their air-ships sailed into the skies, and even the +applause of royal hands increased the uproar with which each successful +experiment was greeted. + +On the morning of September 19th, 1783, the road between Paris and +Versailles was crowded to excess. The stream of carriages seemed +endless, and the eager throng pushed its way between the vehicles till +there was hardly room for horse or man to move. The windows all along +the route were full of faces, while the house-tops themselves were +invaded by sight-seers. And all this excitement was because the King had +commanded Stephen Montgolfier to send a balloon up from the gardens at +Versailles. This time, however, there were to be passengers, and as no +human being had ever breathed the upper air before, it was questioned +whether he could do so and live. The pioneers, therefore, should not be +human, and in due course a cock, a sheep, and a goose were chosen. These +were the first living passengers in the cloud-cruisers, and after a +voyage at a great height, of eight minutes in duration, they returned to +the earth in perfect health. But what bird or animal could have wondered +if, after that 19th of September, they had quacked, and crowed, and +bleated with more pride than before? + +Then Montgolfier was busier still, and on November 21st, in a +fire-balloon specially decorated for such a great occasion, two +gentlemen, named Pilatre de Rozier and D'Arlande, made the first ascent. +Of the former of these we shall have to speak again. + +But as hot air, as a means of flight, has been surpassed by hydrogen +gas, we ought to give more attention here to the grand voyage made +eleven days later by Professor Charles and his skilful helper, M. +Robert. During the preparations all went well. The balloon was made and +fitted at the Tuileries, with a lovely car in the shape of a fairy's +boat, bright with blue panels and golden ornaments. But when things had +gone thus far, trouble began. + +On November 29th a rumour (too soon confirmed) ran through Paris that +the King forbade the ascent to be made. At midnight Charles was aroused +from sleep and summoned to appear before a high official, who presented +him with the royal order to give up his project. We may readily believe +that after this he passed a restless night, and his trouble became +harder to bear when his enemies whispered that he himself had asked for +the order to be made because, at the last moment, his courage had failed +him. Sad to say, such whispers as these will travel as fast and far as +shouts of praise, and Professor Charles felt thoroughly depressed. But +there was some comfort in the heavy rain that fell, for no one could +expect the balloon to ascend in such weather, and before the clouds +cleared away perhaps his difficulties would clear away too. + +The King, however, was deaf to all appeals; maybe he thought Professor +Charles was too valuable to France to run the risk of being killed. But +if this was the reason, there were four hundred thousand people in Paris +who did not agree with him, and when the next morning broke quite +cloudless, they gathered at the Tuileries in a somewhat impatient +manner. Who was to be obeyed, the people or the King? Well, up to the +last minute Professor Charles would not decide. The arrangements were +continued. The great balloon was moved into the open space, with a small +one, five and a half feet in diameter, beside it. This was to be sent up +first, to see if the air was sufficiently quiet. The rope which +controlled it was placed in the hand of Stephen Montgolfier, 'for,' said +Professor Charles, 'it was you who first showed us the way to the +clouds.' At a signal given, M. Montgolfier cut the rope, and for a +moment the attention of the spectators was engrossed by this little +pioneer as it rose into the blue above them. + +Finally, at a quarter past one, M. Charles made up his mind to keep his +promise to the people, and disobey the King for once, and, accompanied +by M. Robert, stepped into the blue and golden car. Amid a deafening +tumult, that must have been heard at Versailles, they rose slowly into +the air. His own description of the voyage has been preserved, and as he +was a man who could describe what he felt and saw (and let all +'chatterboxes' know that this is harder than it seems), no story could +be more interesting. They rose straight up for one thousand eight +hundred feet, and then hung poised in the air. The view was entrancing, +and as the aeronauts looked down at the Tuileries and the buzzing crowd, +Professor Charles felt as though he had escaped from a swarm of wasps +ready to sting him without mercy if he failed to please them. However, +his troubles from that point of view were over, and he turned his +thoughts to the delights of his voyage. Presently they heard the report +of a cannon, which meant that the people of Paris could no longer see +them. Far below, like a silver brook, wound the river Seine, and twice +the balloon floated across it. Village after village drifted away +beneath them, till, at the end of two happy hours, they settled in a +broad meadow at Nesle, twenty-seven miles from Paris. Here they were +joined by three Englishmen who had ridden after them from Paris on +horseback. These Englishmen, together with the village clergyman, signed +Professor Charles' papers to prove that they had witnessed his descent, +while the awestruck peasants gathered round and helped to hold the +balloon. + +The sun had already set, but the gas was not all gone, and so Professor +Charles went up once more, this time alone. He clapped his hands as a +signal to the peasants to let go, and ten minutes later was soaring at a +height of nine thousand feet. In that ten minutes he had passed from an +atmosphere of spring to that of winter; for although it was December +1st, it was warm weather on the earth. Perfect silence was around him, +and when he clapped his hands the noise was quite startling. As already +stated, the sun had set when he left the earth, but now he saw it again +just above the far horizon. All below was dark with shadow, and on him +and his balloon alone the sun was shining. Delighted by these new +experiences, he turned his eyes in all directions. Not a human being was +visible, not a human voice could be heard, and while he looked and +listened the sun sank out of sight once more. Professor Charles, for the +first time in his life, had seen two sunsets in one day. Perhaps he +thought that was enough, for he pulled the valve-line, and a few minutes +later alighted in a field two miles from his starting-place, and the +home of one of the Englishmen. The next morning he and Robert entered +Paris in triumph, and a few hours later, through another gate, the +balloon entered in triumph too, being escorted by bands of music and +crowds of people. + +[Illustration: "M. Charles stepped into the blue and golden car, and +they rose slowly into the air."] + +The kind old King evidently forgave Professor Charles for disobeying +him, for he immediately presented him with a pension, and first-class +lodgings in the Tuileries, where he continued his studies till his death +in 1823. + +JOHN LEA. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE JEALOUS KITTENS. + + + When Jack and Tom were little kits, + No settled home had they; + But Mother found within the barn + A hamper full of hay, + And there she took her children two, + And told them what they ought to do. + + She said, 'Now, darlings, make no noise, + And if you do no harm, + And learn your business, you will live + In comfort at the farm. + Just catch a mouse--for that's your trade-- + And then your fortune will be made.' + + Now, when the kits were left alone + They soon began to play, + For neither cats nor children can + Be busy all the day; + But as they tossed the hay about, + A little mouse came creeping out! + + 'Look! look!' cried Jack, with eager eyes. + 'I see!' cried Tom, 'I see! + You go and seek another mouse, + And leave this mouse to me.' + 'Indeed, I won't!' cried Jack at once; + 'You surely take me for a dunce! + + 'That mouse is mine--I saw it first; + So, Tom, away you go, + And let me tackle it at once, + And lay the rascal low.' + But naughty Tom would not submit; + He said, 'It's mine--I'll capture it.' + + But while they quarrelled loud and long, + They quite forgot their prey, + And when at last they made it up + Miss Mouse had slipped away-- + For if you fight and disagree, + You ne'er will catch the enemy. + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 95._) + +CHAPTER XII. + + +The most probable explanation of the noise I had heard seemed to be that +the house had not after all been empty--indeed, it could not be empty! +Although the regular occupants had gone they might have left some one +behind as a caretaker, who certainly must be in the depths of despair. +Heedless of the fact that my presence might be resented, I opened the +kitchen door, crossed the stone-paved passage, and going up a few +stairs, came to a fair-sized hall. Here there were four doors, one +leading out to the porch where I had found shelter yesterday afternoon, +one to a room right at the back, and two which apparently opened +respectively into the drawing-room and dining-room. + +As the front room was above the kitchen I determined to try that first, +for thence the weird sounds of the night had seemed to come. Advancing +rather nervously towards it, I gathered sufficient courage to turn the +handle, when, discovering that the door had been locked from the +outside, I began to hesitate about turning the key. + +Unless somebody had been shut in by mistake, how had he or she obtained +admission? But as I stood there hesitating, I suddenly broke into a +laugh of perfect relief. The truth now seemed plain enough. I could hear +scampering feet, and an eager whine, which ended in an impatient bark. +Opening the door, I saw a small rough-coated terrier with a patch by his +tail; bounding forward he began to yelp and spring and fawn upon me, +licking my hands and showing every sign of joy and satisfaction. + +I think my own pleasure was almost equal to the terrier's. It is +impossible to make any one understand the intense joy of finding a +companion after the night I had passed. Although he looked rather thin, +his condition did not suggest that he had been locked up longer than a +day or two; but picking him up in my arms while he whined and licked my +face, I carried him downstairs, and turning on the tap over the sink let +him drink as much water as he wished. Fortunately I had still half of +the pork-pie in my pocket, and it was good to see him eat it bit by bit +from my hand. It was true that my remaining small piece of chocolate +made an unsatisfactory breakfast, and that the terrier eyed me a little +reproachfully even when I ate that, but he would not leave me for an +instant, and in less than half an hour it seemed as if he had belonged +to me all my life. + +'What's your name, old chap?' I asked, and he wagged his stump of a tail +as if he would have told me if he could. 'Anyhow,' I said, 'you must +have a name of some sort. What shall it be?' + +It took some time to decide upon a suitable name, and then we did not +arrive at anything more original than 'Patch.' Having settled this +pressing question, I stripped to the waist and had a good wash at the +sink, drying myself as well as I could on the shavings which had served +as a bed. By this time the rain had almost ceased, and I began to think +that it might be advisable to get outside the house before I chanced to +be seen. So, having got through the window with Patch in my arms, I shut +it again and was going round to the front when I saw that the terrier +was poking his muzzle into every nook and corner, as if in search of his +lawful owner. + +Still, he came to my whistle, and not forgetting the sack, I went round +to the front of the house, standing under the porch at the top of the +steps until presently the rain entirely ceased, the clouds broke, and +the sun shone in a feeble kind of way. + +The first order of the day was breakfast, then to make my way to +Hazleton with the object of returning Jacintha's locket. With the sack +rolled up beneath my arm, with Patch running excitedly around me, I set +forth along the muddy road across the moor. Having left this behind and +followed a winding lane for some distance, we seemed to be approaching a +village. Passing one or two houses, we crossed over a railway bridge, +passed a dozen or more cottages, and then, at the corner of two roads, I +saw what appeared to be a kind of mixture between a temperance hotel and +a mission hall. + +After the various escapades through which I had passed since leaving +Castlemore, my clothes were in a sad condition, my boots especially +being coated with mud, so that for a moment I shrank from entering the +building. Summoning courage, however, I pushed open the door and found +myself in a bare-looking room with several large illuminated texts on +the walls, and three wooden tables, at one of which a man was seated +drinking a cup of tea. + +A clock over the mantelpiece showed that it was a quarter-past ten, +although I had thought it considerably later. As Patch followed me into +the room, leaving damp footmarks on the clean linoleum, a short +thin-faced woman, with fair hair drawn very tightly back, entered from +the opposite door with a wet dish in one hand and a cloth in the other. + +'We can't have dogs in here!' she cried by way of greeting. + +'Will it matter if I nurse him?' I asked. + +'If he doesn't spoil my floor,' she answered, and as I took Patch up in +my arms she added, 'What is it you want?' + +'I should like some breakfast.' + +'Tea and bread and butter?' she asked. + +'How much are eggs?' I inquired. + +'Three-halfpence each. Tea a penny the cup, bread and butter a halfpenny +a slice.' + +I made a hasty calculation in my mind, and being extremely hungry +determined to spend sixpence, though it made a rather serious inroad +into my remaining four shillings and a penny. + +'I will have two boiled eggs, four slices of bread and butter, and a cup +of tea,' I answered. Soon afterwards, while I sat with Patch on my +knees, the other customer left the room. When the woman returned with my +breakfast and received the sixpence in exchange, I was agreeably +surprised by her altered manner. At first she had created an +unfavourable impression, but now as I ate she stood watching with kindly +interest, presently remarking, however, that it was beginning to rain +again. + +'How far is it to Hazleton?' I asked. + +'Close on twenty-six miles,' she answered. + +'I was told that it was thirty yesterday,' I said, 'and I know I have +walked ten miles since.' + +'Are you walking to Hazleton?' she inquired. + +'Yes.' + +'Well, you won't be able to get far on your way in this rain,' she +replied, and indeed it was again coming down in torrents. 'We make up +beds here,' she added. While she was speaking, a small, fair-headed +child of four or five years ran into the room, and, encouraged by the +way the woman caught him up and kissed him, I thought that I would +confide in her. + +'You see,' I explained, 'I have only three and sixpence to last me to +Hazleton, and this weather I can't get along very quickly--that is the +worst of it.' + +She pursed her lips as she looked into my face. 'Well,' she answered, 'I +can give you a bed for sixpence if you're not too particular. Then +there's dinner----' + +'I shall not care about dinner,' I said, feeling perfectly satisfied +after two eggs and four thick slices of bread and butter, 'if I could +have some bread and cheese for supper.' + +Finally, she agreed to give me some tea in the afternoon, some supper, a +bed, and a plain breakfast the following morning, for one and ninepence; +this would leave the same sum to carry me to Hazleton, beyond which my +plans did not at present extend. The woman, moreover, offered to tie +Patch up in an out-house and give him some scraps, and later in the day +she said that if I would go to bed early she would wash my shirt, which +sadly needed such attention. Altogether it seemed that I had found a +friend; and as the rain did not cease all day, I amused myself reading +such books as the place contained. At six o'clock I had supper and went +to bed, putting everything but my cap and cloth clothes outside my door, +where, after a long night's sleep, I found them nicely ironed and +folded. On coming downstairs, I borrowed some boot-brushes, so that on +Wednesday morning I set out looking far more respectable than I had +done on my arrival, in excellent spirits, with one and ninepence in my +pocket and Patch at my heels. + +A short distance from the reading-room, or whatever it ought to be +called, I met a postman who told me it was only twenty-three miles to +Hazleton, although, after I had covered quite four miles more, a member +of the county police told me it was still twenty-two miles. Seeing that +it would be impossible in any event to reach Colebrook Park to-day, +although I could easily manage the distance to-morrow, I did not hurry, +but, the sun being hot, allowed Patch several rests by the way, until on +making another inquiry at about half-past five that evening, I was +informed that Hazleton was still eighteen miles distant. + +Although the day had been fine, the ground was still wet, far too wet to +sleep out of doors with comfort. I had economised as much as possible, +but walking is hungry work, and now I found myself with only one and +fourpence by way of capital. The consequence was that a free lodging of +some kind must be discovered, and I looked about vainly for another +empty house. + +At about six o'clock I happened to pass a farm; a good-natured-looking +man stood leaning against a gate, smoking a pipe. + +'Should you mind if I were to sleep in one of those barns?' I asked. + +'On the tramp?' he exclaimed. + +'To Hazleton,' I said. + +'Pretty near twenty miles.' + +'No one seems to know exactly how far it is,' I answered, and he chuckled +as he puffed at his pipe. Then he began to eye me inquisitively, and +presently, knocking out his pipe with a good deal of deliberation, he +turned and walked away. I was beginning to feel that I had met with a +rebuff, when he looked back and told me to follow him. + +'Better pick up that terrier,' he said, 'because of the chickens.' + +With Patch in my arms I followed the farmer round the house to an empty +shed behind. + +'You can have a shake-down here if you don't mind being locked in,' he +said; and, although I would rather not have had the key turned, I at +once consented. It was a large shed, and quite clean and fresh, but +entirely bare. When I had been there about half an hour a maid opened +the door, with a plate of cold beef and potatoes in her hand, and she +stayed talking while Patch and I shared the meal. Soon after she had +gone, taking the plate and knife and fork, the farmer came again, +followed by a man with an armful of straw. + +'I shall not lock you up,' he said, 'though I have been done so often +you can't tell whom to trust and whom not. If you go to the back door +to-morrow morning, you will get some breakfast.' + +I have slept in more comfortable places, but still the shed was quite as +good as anything I had a right to expect, while Patch's presence proved +the greatest comfort. He lay down close beside me, artfully taking +advantage of the straw, and when I felt very lonely--for I could not get +to sleep for some time--I put out a hand and felt his coat. + +(_Continued on page 106._) + +[Illustration: "'You can have a shake-down here,' said the farmer."] + +[Illustration: "'The question is, where did you get the dog?'"] + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 103._) + + +It was half-past six the next morning when I went to the farmer's back +door, where the rough-looking maid provided me with a cup of coffee and +a chunk of bread and butter, then, followed by Patch, I set out that +Thursday morning on the road to Hazleton. The weather could not have +been better, although the middle of the day promised to be excessively +hot. + +As I trudged along the pleasant road, I had some wild idea of reaching +Hazleton that evening, but this was soon destroyed, for about a mile +from the farm where we had slept, I noticed that Patch was limping. +Sitting down on a heap of stones by the roadside, I looked at his near +hind paw, and saw that it was nastily cut, so that he could only walk in +great pain. I suppose he had trodden on a piece of glass in the road. + +Now I realised that I was in an awkward plight. Of course, Patch must on +no account be left behind; but, on the other hand, how was I to get him +along? Tearing a piece off the edge of the sack, I frayed out some of +the thread and made a kind of bag, which I put over the wounded paw, +tying it round the leg. This took some time, and, as the job was +finished and Patch was licking my hand by way of thanks, I saw a large +van approaching from the direction of the farm, driven by one of the +fattest men I had ever seen. The cart was laden with bottles of +ginger-beer and mineral waters, but, as it passed us by, at a fair pace, +a nosebag, which was tied behind, fell off into the road. + +The driver, alone in the van, was entirely unaware of his loss until, +rising from the heap of stones, I shouted to him to stop, and, picking +up the nosebag, ran after the van. Pulling up his horse, he leaned down +to take the bag, and then asked where I was going. + +'To Hazleton,' I answered, as usual. + +'That is about seventeen miles,' he said. + +'The worst of it is,' I continued, 'my dog has cut his foot and can't +walk.' + +'Like a lift, doggie?' asked the fat driver. + +'We should most awfully!' I exclaimed, eagerly. + +'Well, now, listen to me,' was the answer. 'My round doesn't take me as +far as Hazleton, but I am going to Watcombe, and that's ten miles short. +We shall not get there much afore evening, because you see I have to +travel a good bit out of the main road, and stop at ever so many places +on the way.' + +At any rate, the proffered lift would take me within ten miles of +Colebrook Park, whereas without such help I did not see how I was to get +even so far unless I carried Patch in my arms. Besides, the drive was +tempting in itself, the only drawback being that my remaining capital of +one and fourpence would have to bear an extra strain, and, in case of +more bad weather, it would probably be exhausted before I reached my +destination. However, in a very few moments Patch and I were seated on +the top of a wooden box full of lemonade bottles, the fat driver whipped +up his horse, and we sped gaily along the country road. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +As I sat on the box of lemonade bottles, with a hand on Patch lest he +should show a desire to jump down from the van, I noticed that he was +sniffing curiously at the back of the driver's coat; and presently the +driver in his turn began to look with equal interest at the terrier. + +'He seems to know you,' I remarked. + +'Come to that,' was the answer, 'I seem to know him. Looks to me most +uncommon like Mr. Westrop's dog, he does.' + +'Who is Mr. Westrop?' I inquired, holding Patch more tightly. + +For a few minutes, without answering (for the fat driver was slow of +speech and spoke in a deep voice which seemed to come from the direction +of his boots), he divided his attention between the horse and the dog, +and then fixed his small eyes on my face. + +'The question is,' he said slowly, 'where did you get him?' + +'You see, I found him,' I replied. + +'Mr. Westrop's been in a bad way about his dog,' continued the driver. +'A very bad way. What do you think about it, Sam, old chap?' + +The terrier, to my sorrow, showed what he thought about it by wagging +his stumpy tail and whining with satisfaction, so that it would have +been ridiculous to attempt to persuade myself that he failed to +recognise the name of 'Sam.' + +'I know most people betwixt here and Barton,' said the driver, laying +his whip gently across the horse. 'Come to that, so I ought.' + +'Do you live at Barton?' I asked, thinking of Mr. Turton and Augustus, +and their wasted drive to that town. + +'Just this side,' was the answer. 'That's where our factory is--half a +mile this side of Barton. And every day of every week, for fifteen years +or more, I've driven round the country with this van.' + +'Are you going back to-night?' I inquired. + +'Why, of course,' he exclaimed. 'Back by the straight road, after I've +done my round.' + +We had already left the wider road, and as the driver spoke he pulled up +the horse at the door of a small rustic inn. Fastening his reins to a +hook on his seat, he slowly dismounted, took a box of bottles from the +van, carried it into the inn, returning after a short interval with the +same box filled by a similar number of empty bottles. Then he climbed up +to his seat again, unhooked the reins, and cried 'Gee-up' to the horse, +which at once started at a smart trot along the lane. + +'Now about this dog,' he began. 'Mr. Westrop used to live at the Beacon +on Ramleigh Forest--I can remember before the house was built. He moved +out last Friday to a house near Barton, and sure enough he has lost his +terrier. Where did you find him? That's what I should like to know.' + +'I don't know whether the house was called the Beacon,' I answered, +'because I didn't see any name. Patch had got locked in the +drawing-room.' + +'Well, now!' cried the driver, 'who would have thought the dog was fool +enough for that! Locked in the drawing-room, were you, Sam, old chap? +And how did you get him out?' + +When at some length I explained how I had been caught in the storm, and +sought shelter in the empty house, and slept in the kitchen, and had +been frightened by the ghostly noises in the middle of the night, the +driver leaned forward and laughed so uproariously that I felt afraid +lest he should fall from his seat on to the horse: and as soon as his +merriment permitted him to speak, he turned to me with his great red +face redder than ever. + +'Well,' he cried, 'you are a nice young man for a small party, you are! +A nice young burglar, to be sure! Going and breaking into people's +houses, cool as you please, and stealing their dogs. Howsoever,' he +added, 'Mr. Westrop will be no end glad when I take Sam back to him +to-night.' + +I clasped Patch more closely. + +'You're--you are not going to take him back?' I said. + +'Why, what do you think?' he demanded. 'You wouldn't go and keep a dog +that didn't belong to you!' + +I am afraid I might have been tempted to keep Patch or Sam, whichever he +ought to be named, on any terms, if circumstances had permitted; and +useful as the lift on my way had appeared, I began to regret that I had +ever seen the driver or his van. But before I had time to reply we were +pulling up in front of another inn, where another box of mineral waters +was carried in, and a box of empty bottles was brought out. + +'Not but what,' the driver continued, 'I am sorry to take the dog from +you, because he is just the sort you could soon grow fond of--aren't +you, Sam? But right is right,' said the driver, looking straight in +front of him, as he laid the whip on his horse. + +During the next two hours we stopped at numerous inns, and I might have +been able to enjoy the drive through the country lanes, and the remarks +which the driver exchanged with almost every one we met, if it had not +been for the necessity of restoring Patch to his rightful owner. It was +impossible to pretend that the driver had not right on his side, but the +fact remained that the terrier's companionship had become very valuable, +and I would have borne a great deal rather than give him up. On the +other hand, I began to persuade myself that it would have been perhaps +difficult to keep him in London, especially if I succeeded in obtaining +work as quickly as I hoped, when necessarily I should be occupied most +of the day. + +When we stopped at a more important inn at one o'clock, the driver took +from beneath his seat two plates, one covering the other, and tied up in +a clean napkin. Without a moment's hesitation, he offered to share his +meal with me, and there appeared to be quite enough rabbit-pie for two. +After dinner, as we drove on again, he became more talkative, and asked +a good many questions about myself, with the result that he soon +learned where I was going after I left Hazleton, and how much money I +had in my pockets, though I did not mention the gold locket. + +'Now where did you think of sleeping to-night?' he asked, and I told him +that I intended to wait to see what might turn up in the way of shelter. +'You see,' he continued, 'I always like fair play. Fair play is a jewel. +It was you who found the dog, though you had no business to have been on +the spot, so to speak. But Mr. Westrop is pretty sure to give me a tip +for bringing Sam back, and I don't see why you should not have your +share.' + +'Oh, that is all right,' I answered. + +'Of course it is, because I am going to make it all right,' he said. 'I +told you I would set you down at Watcombe, ten miles from Hazleton; but +half a mile short of that my sister-in-law lets lodgings. I will speak +to her, and arrange that you shall have some supper and a bed and +breakfast, and then I think we can cry quits, eh--what do you say?' + +I said that it was very kind of him, and he proved as good as his +promise. The house was not particularly tempting-looking, but, at all +events, it was far better than no place to sleep in. I climbed down from +the van, followed by Patch, from whom I was so soon to part, and +accompanied the driver into a kind of kitchen, where a tall, stout woman +in a cotton dress was busily employed as we entered. She glanced at me +once or twice while the driver carried on a whispered conversation and +handed her some money. Then she went out at a back door and returned +with a piece of rope. + +'This is the only bit I can find,' she said. + +'That's enough,' answered the driver, and, going down on his knees, he +whistled to Patch, who went obediently, and stood wagging his tail while +a loop was fastened round his neck. I followed when the driver led him +out at the door, lifting him into the van, and tying the end of the rope +to the rail behind his own seat. Standing on an empty box, Patch looked +down at me and whimpered, so that I climbed on to one of the wheels to +pat his coat and hold his muzzle as a last good-bye. The driver mounted +to his seat and unhooked the reins. + +'Down you jump!' he cried. 'So long! be good!' and, whipping up his +horse, he drove away, while Patch began to run about on the top of the +box, and strained at the rope as if he were as sorry to leave me behind +as I was to let him go. + +(_Continued on page 117._) + + + + +THE REASON WHY. + + +Louis XIV., King of France, was very fond of playing at chess. One day +he was having a game with one of his courtiers, and during the game made +a false move, to which his adversary respectfully called his attention. +The King, who did not easily suffer contradiction, did not wish to +acknowledge that he was wrong, and appealed to the noblemen who +surrounded the table, but none of them made any reply. Just then the +Duke de Grammont came into the room, and immediately the King saw him he +appealed to him, and wished to explain to him the subject of the +dispute, but the Duke hardly allowed him to finish. + +[Illustration: "'Your Majesty is certainly wrong.'"] + +'Your Majesty is certainly wrong,' he said, with a firmness of tone +which astonished the King, and caused him to frown. + +'How do you know that I am wrong, Monsieur le Duc?' replied the King; +'you have not even given me time to explain to you what the question +was.' + +'I know undoubtedly,' replied the Duke of Grammont, 'for all these +gentlemen, whom your Majesty was consulting at the moment I arrived, +only replied by their silence. They would every one have hastened to +take your part if your Majesty had been right.' + +The King was struck with the sense of this argument, and admitted that +he had made a mistake. + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +III.--HOW BUTTERFLIES, FLIES, AND SNAILS FEED. + +(_Concluded from page 78._) + + +When the method of feeding employed by the Snail is compared with that +of the Butterfly or the common Fly, a very striking difference in the +construction of the mouth-parts will be noticed. The common snail (fig. +D), for example, feeds by the constant licking, or rather rasping, +motion of a very wonderful tongue--a tongue which, stretched out, +appears to be longer than the whole body! Yet only a small portion of +this curious organ is in use at one time. + +[Illustration: Fig. D.--Common Snail.] + +[Illustration: Fig. E.--Section of Snail's Head (much magnified).] + +This tongue (fig. F) consists of a long flat ribbon, or 'radula,' as it +is called, the surface of which is beset by a series of minute teeth, +set in rows across the ribbon. The number of these teeth varies greatly +in the different species of Mollusca--the group to which the snail +belongs. In some there may be as few as sixteen; in others, in some +relatives of our garden snail, for example, there may be as many as +forty thousand! The working portion of this ribbon is fixed to a sort of +tough cushion, which, by means of muscles, can be drawn forward and +protruded from the mouth, where it is worked backwards and forwards with +a licking or rasping action that effectually scrapes away, in a fine +pulp, the edge of the cabbage leaf on which the creature is feeding. The +teeth serve, in fact, the same purpose as the horny spines on the tongue +of the lion, or, on a small scale, of the cat. You all must have noticed +how rough a cat's tongue is when, in a burst of affection, pussy insists +on licking your hand. If she went on licking long enough she would wear +away the skin. As the snail's teeth wear away in front they are replaced +from the reserve store which is kept in a sort of pocket, which lies +behind the 'cushion' in the drawing of a section of a snail's head (fig. +E). It is here that new teeth are being constantly formed, and pushed +forward to supply those lost. + +[Illustration: Fig. F.--Snail's Tongue (much magnified).] + +In this drawing, by the way, you will notice a long arrow (A-B): this +marks the passage which the food takes from the mouth to the gullet, and +thence to the stomach. The head of the arrow points towards the snail's +interior. + +In many mollusca, the teeth, instead of resembling one another +throughout the series, are of different kinds, very large and very small +teeth alternating one with another in endless variety. + +The horny jaws, to which reference has been made, are generally not +conspicuous; but in the Cuttle-fish and Octopuses they are of huge size, +and have been aptly compared to the beak of a parrot. But we must return +to this subject again on another occasion, for it is one of quite +unusual interest. + + + + +AN OLD-FASHIONED GRACE. + + +This little 'grace before meat' was written two hundred and fifty years +ago by Robert Herrick, a Devonshire clergyman who became a famous poet. +'Paddocks' is an old name for 'frogs,' and 'benison' means blessing; +'heaving up' means 'lifting up in prayer.' + + Here a little child I stand, + Heaving up my either hand; + Cold as paddocks though they be, + Here I lift them up to Thee, + For a benison to fall + On our meat and on us all.--Amen. + + + + +CURIOUS NAMES IN LONDON CITY. + + +Time and progress have swept away many of the old streets, lanes, and +alleys for which London City was remarkable. Most of them had names with +a meaning, though it is sometimes difficult to find this out now. One +reason is that, as the years went on, names often got altered in very +odd ways. There were few of what might be called 'fancy' names, such as +are now often given to new streets or roads. Frequently a name arose +from the business of the people who lived in the street, or perhaps it +kept in remembrance some notable person who had a house there. +Occasionally it happened that a lane or alley had several names, and it +is not easy to tell which is the oldest. The citizens sometimes gave two +or three streets the same name. + +When it could be done, old names have been kept, or not much altered, +though the street is changed. Old-time Londoners would stare at Cannon +Street of nowadays, so different from the Candle-wick or Candlewright +Street of the past, where lived dealers in tapers and candles. It is +said that Paternoster Row got its name from the fact that stationers and +writers had shops there, who sold, among other things, copies of the +Lord's Prayer. It had an Amen Corner, and Creed Lane is also near. +Afterwards mercers and lacemen invited customers to shops in the Row, +and finally it became famous for books and magazines. + +Chancery Lane and Fetter Lane still keep the old names they had when +their appearance was not that of streets or business thoroughfares, but +quiet lanes between Holborn and Fleet Street, dotted with private +houses. Fetter Lane had nothing to do with fetters or prisoners; it was +so called because 'fewters,' or idle persons, were often found lurking +amongst the back gardens. One of the short turnings out of this lane had +the odd name of Three Leg Alley; nobody seems to know why. It is +supposed that Gracechurch Street is a reminder of a church in the +locality, St. Benet's, Grasschurch, thus called because near the church +was a herb-market, where wild or garden plants were sold. Occasionally +the name is found in books written by chance as Gracious Street. At +first the Gresham Street of our day was called Cateaton Street, but an +old writer about London states that this was also shortened to 'Catte.' +There was a surname Catte or Katt, which might have belonged to a person +who built houses along the street. Hog Lane, Spitalfields, we are told, +was visited now and then by the porkers that were allowed to range in +the fields and obtain what food they could. Doubtless they strolled up +the lane on the chance of getting fragments from the kitchens of +citizens. Was Duck Lane, Smithfield, damp enough to be attractive to +ducks? It may once have been, but later it was known as Duke Street. + +Many places in the city were named from eatables or other articles that +were sold in them. This was the case with Pudding Lane and Pie Corner; +Milk Street, too, is supposed to have been a milk market, but Honey Lane +was not a depot for honey, nor remarkable for its sweetness. The +historian Stow says that it was both narrow and dark, needing much +sweeping to keep it clean. The Poultry was a market for fowls, and +Scalding Alley, close by, had houses in which people scalded poultry and +prepared them for sale. An old name given to Grocers' Alley was +Coney-slope Alley, for it had a market where coneys or rabbits could be +bought. In Rood Lane formerly stood the Church of St. Margaret Pattens, +beside which the women offered pattens to by-passers. These wooden +elevators for the feet were much in demand at the time when London +streets were often deep in mud, and the fields splashy or sticky with +clay. But they did not sell bucklers in Bucklersbury; so far as we know, +it was called after a citizen named Buckle, to whom the manor belonged. +Grub Street did not have at all a pretty name, though some say it was +first Grape Street; then it was altered to Milton Street in honour of +our great poet. Little Britain or Britagne Street had a residence +belonging to the Dukes of Brittany, and Barbican was notable for its +Roman tower, around which were large gardens. + + + + +EARNING AN HONEST PENNY. + + +'I wish we could scrape enough money together to buy poor old Father a +pair of slippers for his birthday,' said Jack; 'his old ones are all in +holes, and I know he can't afford a new pair--he has had so many +expenses since Mother's illness.' + +Geoffrey looked up from his home-lessons and sighed deeply. '_My_ +money-box is quite empty,' he remarked, 'and Nellie and Hilda have not a +farthing in the world.' + +'That is true enough,' laughed Nellie. 'But, oh, Jack,' turning to her +eldest brother, 'if only we could do _something_ for Father, I should be +so glad! He seems so worried lately, and I am sure it's because he can't +get Mother all the nice things she ought to have now that she is getting +better.' + +'Couldn't I take out a broom and sweep a crossing?' asked Geoffrey; +'that would bring in a little, and I would not mind what I did, if it +helped.' + +'You must find your crossing first,' returned Jack. 'The roads are as +dry as a bone at present, so _that_ won't work, little stupid!' + +'Little stupid' sighed again. 'If only I knew how to earn an honest +penny!' he murmured. + +'Or twopence,' said Hilda. 'I think twopence would be a little better.' + +'I would rather it was half-a-crown,' put in Nellie. + +There was silence for a moment; then Jack said slowly: 'I wonder what +became of Uncle Harry after he went out to Australia. Father never +writes to him; he doesn't know where he is now, and we have moved so +many times that I expect Uncle does not know where _we_ are either. I +dare say if he knew we were so badly off he would help us.' + +'It's no good talking about Uncle Harry,' said Geoff; 'the question is, +Can _we_ help Father?' + +'Look here,' cried Jack, suddenly; 'supposing, instead of saying "_Can_ +we," we say "We _must_." Supposing,' he added, 'we all make up our minds +to earn a shilling each as best we can, so that we may have four +shillings to buy Father some slippers?' + +'Capital!' exclaimed Nell; 'but _how_ are we to earn it?' + +'Oh, we must each hit upon a plan for ourselves,' returned Jack; 'I vote +we draw lots for the first victim to-night, and we will allow each +victim two days to earn the shilling in, and then will draw for the +next.' + +Of course, they all began to puzzle their young brains about plans; but +Jack cut some slips of paper into different lengths, and, placing them +between his thumb and first finger, while he clasped his other fingers +tightly over the ends inside his hand, he bade them each take one, and +whoever drew the longest was to earn the first shilling. + +Well, they all drew, and Jack took the slip which was left; but Nellie +got the longest, and she retired to the window, and stared out for +inspiration. + +'I know what I shall do,' she announced, at last; 'I'll cut my twelve +chrysanthemums out of my garden, take them down to town, and sell them +in the street for a penny each.' + +'Nellie!' cried Jack; 'you mustn't think of doing such a thing! Father +would not like it, and I am sure _we_ should not. You are not half +strong enough to go out into the streets.' + +But Nell was firm. 'It's the only thing I can think of, Jack,' she +replied, 'and I _will_ do it. We must earn some money somehow, and no +one will recognise me if I put on my old frock, and a shawl over my +head. We can't help being poor, Jack, and it is an _honest_ way of +earning a shilling.' + +Jack, however, looked a little worried. He admired Nellie's pluck, but +he did not like the thought of her going out into the streets alone. +Nevertheless, after some discussion, it was decided that she should have +her way, on condition that Jack went with her to see that she was quite +safe. It was agreed that the matter should be kept dark, and that if +Mother asked where Jack and Nellie had gone next evening, the others +were to say it was a secret. + +So, after tea the following day, the two children stole out. Mother was +resting in her own room, and Geoffrey and Hilda were at their lessons, +though it must be confessed they found it hard to give their whole +attention to them. + +It was a good mile and a half down to the town, but Nellie trudged +bravely on with her treasured chrysanthemums (she alone knew what it +cost her to cut them), and Jack walked a little behind, for his sister +said that flower-girls never had any one to escort them, and he must not +let any one see he belonged to her. + +When they arrived in town, Nellie took up her station at a busy corner, +and timidly offered her flowers for sale, while her brother stood in a +doorway not far off, pretending to read a book by the light of a street +lamp, but in reality he was watching to see that she came to no harm. + +One honest penny was earned--two; then Nell grew bolder, and ran after +a man whom she thought a likely customer. But he pushed her roughly on +one side, and she fell upon the pavement. Jack could have kicked that +man, but he was out of sight in an instant, so the boy went and helped +Nellie to rise instead. Gathering up her flowers, he entreated her to +return home, and not to trouble any more. But the little girl bravely +held out, assured him she was not hurt, and in the end persuaded him to +go back to his doorway. + +Ten minutes passed away without any more flowers being sold, then Nellie +held out the best of all to a kind-looking gentleman who was passing +slowly by. + +He stopped, looked at the child somewhat curiously, and then said, 'No, +little lass, I do not want any flowers; but I wonder if you can tell me +where Greenfield Road is, eh?' + +Nellie started, for that was the name of the road where she lived. +However, she simply directed him, and was turning away to seek for +another customer when he slipped a bright half-crown into her hand. The +child was so astonished that for the moment she could say nothing, and +when she recollected herself the gentleman had gone, and Jack was by her +side, asking what had happened. + +'Well,' he said, when she had told him, 'no more selling flowers +to-night, Nell, so you can just come home at once, for you have done +your part and more,' and he would not hear of her staying there any +longer. + +Together the two started for home, feeling very happy indeed; but +scarcely had they got inside the door when Geoffrey literally rushed at +them. + +'Oh, Jack! Nellie!' he cried, 'you can't think what a splendid thing has +happened! Who do you think turned up ten minutes ago? Uncle Harry; yes, +_Uncle Harry!_ He has been hunting for us for days. Oh, it seems too +good to be true! He's in the dining-room now, with Father, and----' + +'Oh, is he?' said a voice from behind, and who should appear on the +scene but the kind gentleman who had given Nell half-a-crown! 'Why!' he +exclaimed, suddenly, 'what's this I see? Well, if it isn't----Why, what +does it all mean?' he asked, turning round to Father, who had followed +him out, and was looking equally puzzled. + +There was an awkward silence. Nellie coloured, and in her nervousness, +down went all her pretty flowers on to the floor. But Jack came to the +rescue, and blurted out the whole story on the spot. + +Father turned his head away as Jack explained; indeed, he was much +touched by the children's thoughtfulness; but Uncle Harry patted Nell's +head, and praised her for her pluck. He said that Father ought to be +proud of his four children, and I am sure Father was, though he said +they must never think of going into the streets to sell flowers again. + +Of course, the earning an honest penny business came to an end, for +Uncle Harry had come back much better off than when he went out to +Australia, and he gave the children a shilling each to buy Father some +slippers, and something else for themselves besides. + +Later on, he and Father became partners in a business of their own, and +Nellie never had to think of selling her flowers again, or Geoffrey of +sweeping a crossing. + +J. A. VIVIAN. + +[Illustration: "'No, little lass, I do not want any flowers.'"] + +[Illustration: "'Look out, Father, they are going to shoot you!'"] + + + + +'GINGER FOR PLUCK.' + + +Thomas M'Calmont had blue eyes, a mop of red hair, a moderate share of +brains, and a most insatiable thirst for adventure. When his +school-fellows made insulting remarks about his red locks, he was wont +to answer, 'Ginger for pluck;' and, indeed, on several occasions, he had +acted up to this saying there and then on the persons of his unfortunate +persecutors. + +Tommy was only eleven years old. Mrs. M'Calmont, his mother, regarded +him as the most wonderful boy in the world, and would have utterly +spoilt him, after the fashion of adoring mothers, had it not been that +Mr. M'Calmont, seeing nothing more wonderful in his son than a +red-headed, mischievous boy, set himself most diligently to curb Tom's +youthful energy, and make an honest, sensible fellow of him. + +They lived in the country, and Tom had three miles to go to his school. +But Mr. M'Calmont also had business in Barton, so the pair set out +together each morning in a trap drawn by a steady-going horse, who never +shied or ran away, or did anything at all exciting. Tom was set down at +the door of his school at nine o'clock, and called for at half-past four +precisely, just like a grocery parcel. Never a chance for a frolic over +the fields in the clear morning air, never any scrapes to get into! No +gentle dawdles through the lanes after school, with occasional +excursions into hedge or spinny after wild creatures, or the chance of a +nice creepy adventure in the darkness of some winter's evening. The +whole business, Tom thought, was humdrum and commonplace. + +But at last, one early springtime, it happened that Mr. M'Calmont had +urgent business at the town of Greenhurst, twenty miles away. It was a +cross-country journey, where railways did not fit, so Mr. M'Calmont +departed in his trap, leaving Tom and his mother in sole possession for +a whole fortnight at Red House. Mrs. M'Calmont was secretly rather glad +to be able to spoil her son as she liked. + +Tom made the most of his advantages, and mother and son together +revelled in the glorious sense of doing everything they liked best. +Tom's favourite dishes appeared at every meal, bedtime came a good hour +later than usual, and Tom also managed three clear days' +'old-soldiering' on the strength of a slight cold. But the last morning +of liberty came, and as Tom dressed he carefully turned over in his mind +how he should celebrate it. It was a beautiful morning after a week of +heavy rain, and Tom had no wish for another day of coddling indoors. + +Tom's mother packed his lunch-case with many dainties, and kissed him +good-bye. Tom felt rather mean, 'like a wriggle-up worm' as he +afterwards put it, and he half resolved to give up his plan and go +soberly to school, for, to tell the truth, he had already resolved to +play truant. Unhappily, as he turned into the lane from the drive gates, +a rabbit dashed across the road right in front of him, and frisked into +the hedge in a most tantalising manner, as if to show his contempt for +stupid human beings who plod along the beaten track. That killed all +Tom's scruples, and he was soon scurrying through the fields, scrambling +over hedges, leaping ditches, and getting his clothes into as pretty a +pickle as could be desired. + +What a splendid day he spent, following no settled route, but wandering +here and there as the impulse of the moment directed, and feeling in all +his boyish frame the gladness of life and of spring! He lunched in a +little wood, with a fallen tree for a throne, and a rippling stream to +play him music while he feasted. Then he sauntered leisurely on in the +afternoon sunlight, many thoughts busy beneath his comical red thatch. +The long hours in the open after his three days indoors made him sleepy +at last, and he was glad to discover behind the temporary abode of a +railway navvy a little rough wood hut, where, with a friendly dog for +company, and some straw for a couch, he was soon fast asleep. + +Tom was dreaming. He heard a babel of voices fierce and angry, and was +striving very hard to hear what they were saying; but, though the voices +seemed loud, he could not distinguish one word from another, and in +trying to do so he awoke. The voices continued, but they were not loud +at all, though rough and angry. They came from the navvy shelter, and +Tom could hear plainly every word. He was about to move away when he +heard his father's name mentioned, qualified with expressions of hatred. +Plainly it was right that he should hear what these men had to say about +his father, so Tom crouched nearer the wall of the hut and listened. His +blue eyes grew big and round, and his face filled with horror. + +Tom knew that the navvies at work in the district were not regular +workmen, but a very rough set. A gang of them had been almost a terror +to the neighbourhood, and Tom's father had been foremost in bringing the +guilty ones to justice. Three of their friends were in the hut, one with +a revolver. They had learned from a workman that Mr. M'Calmont was to +return from Greenhurst that evening, and they were discussing the spot +where they could best waylay and shoot him. 'We won't kill him, only +damage him a bit,' were the last words Tom heard as he crept from his +hiding-place and made his way quietly into the wood. + +Tom's fear began to give way to excitement. He had an adventure at last, +and all to himself. To go home for help would be no use and would only +terrify his mother. The setting sun showed that the evening was +advancing, and his father would soon be coming, so that the only thing +was to go and hide near the spot where the men had planned to wait. This +was where two roads merged into one, at the bottom of a steep hill +overhung with trees. Mr. M'Calmont might come by either of the two +roads--it would depend on whether he wished to go into Barton or not. + +Tom made his way to his post as quickly as possible, and found himself a +hiding-place in a hole beneath the hedge, where only a boy could +wriggle, and where he hoped that in the dusk he would be unobserved. His +post was just the point where the road forked; the men had planned to +stand some yards from that point, where it was more shaded by trees, so +Tom hoped that when he heard the trap approaching, and could distinguish +on which road it was, he would have time to run and warn his father, who +would then, he did not doubt, with the aid of his valiant son, be a +match for any three men. + +It was rather a lonely watch. Tom was getting hungry again and very +tired and stiff. As the light faded, his excitement faded too, and it +was almost a relief to hear the stealthy arrival of the conspirators. +Then another long wait, until at last he heard the cart-wheels going +over unrolled stones, which told that it was not on the Barton road. Out +of his hiding-place he crept, and darted along the grass at the +road-side. An unlucky stumble over a fallen branch betrayed him, but as +he fell he shouted with all his might, 'Look out, Father, they are going +to shoot you!' Then there was a rush, a crack as something came into +violent contact with his head, the world went round, and then--darkness. + +When Tom woke, the morning sun was shining into his own room. His mother +was busy at the window, fixing the curtain to keep the light from his +face, and Tom could see that she was crying. A great fear entered his +mind, and, as his mother turned and looked at him, all he could say was +'Father?' + +'Quite safe, my brave laddie, for you frightened the men away. My dear, +brave boy.' + +Then joy filled the heart of Thomas M'Calmont, and for once the fault of +playing truant went unpunished. + +JESSIE HARVEY. + + + + +GROWING UP. + + + When birthdays come, we always write + Our names upon the nursery door, + And carefully we mark the height, + Each standing shoeless on the floor. + + How strange to think birthdays will be + When we shall never add one more + To all those marks which gradually + Are climbing up the nursery door! + + + + +SOME WONDERFUL CAVERNS. + +IV.--THE GROTTOES OF HAN IN THE ARDENNES. + + +A narrow opening high on an oak-covered hill; a cluster of women, girls, +and boys, each carrying a slight iron bar connecting two oil lamps; a +crowd of tourists of many nationalities--all waiting to enter the +Grottoes of Han. Presently the guide arrives, and delivers a brief +speech as to the possible consequences should visitors deface or purloin +the treasures of the cave, demanding silence during his explanations, +and declaring that one light-bearer would accompany every four persons. +He ceases, and away we go. Down, down, down, apparently into the very +heart of the earth, through damp and chilly air and profound darkness, +broken only by the glimmer of the friendly lamps. Then we cease +descending, and emerge in a cavern where the lights are flashed upon +thousands of fossilised insects, and on into the 'Hall of the Foxes,' +where countless generations of their species lived, died, and were +buried. After this the great caverns succeed each other rapidly, each +with some special interest of its own, until we find ourselves in the +'Hall of the Trophies,' where electric light is installed to exhibit the +marvels of the roof. A thick fringe of stalactites, many of immense +size, descend to meet the columns of stalagmite ascending from the +floor. + +Right through the caverns, a distance of nearly two miles, a rough path +has been made which is fairly dry and clean, but on either side are +rivers and banks of mud, so that it is well to be careful and watch the +way. Once as we went along we heard behind us a splashing thud, and, +turning, beheld a portly Belgian floundering on his back in the mire, +whence he presently emerged, coated with mud, looking rather like a +hippopotamus. No rule of silence could avail to stifle the peals of +laughter that rang through the grotto, and we had the less scruple in +enjoying the fun because any one of us might at any moment have the +happiness of similarly amusing his or her fellow-creatures. + +Our merriment ended before the wonders of the 'Hall of Mystery,' where +the electric light travelled round to show 'The Mosque,' standing out in +glittering points of light; 'The Curtain,' a veil of gleaming lacework +in stone; and 'The Alhambra,' furnished royally with every combination +of diamond-like crystals. It would be easy to invent names for most of +the objects, for shrines, pulpits, thrones, and such-like are everywhere +carved, of dazzling whiteness and richness of design. + +Next we enter the gloomy magnificence of the 'Hall of the Dome,' where +the roof towers up two hundred feet into the darkness. As we ascend the +steep path we turn and see below the gleam of water. This is the +subterranean river Lesse, the architect of these gloomy grottoes, which +until some forty years ago had heard no voice save that of the water +hammering and chiselling the rocks at its own sweet will. Legend +declares these stately halls to be the palaces of the little Brown +Dwarfs, who, issuing from their homes at night, by counsel and more +practical aid enabled the early builders to produce the wonderful +edifices of Bruges, Ypres, and other Flemish cities. + +Still we go on, up and down through grotto after grotto of marvellous +beauty; sometimes along the banks of the shadowy river, reflecting in +its depths the fairylike beauties of roof and wall, then up high, narrow +ridges or down into the depths of inky blackness, until at last we find +ourselves in the 'Hall of Embarkation.' Here a small wooden platform +projects over the river, and near it are a number of large boats capable +of carrying all our party. The boats push off, all lights are +extinguished, and the sensation of total darkness in such conditions is +more weird than pleasant. We are told that the water is of unknown +depth, and it takes some confidence to repress thoughts of collisions +and perils by water of various kinds. + +[Illustration: The Grottoes of Han in the Ardennes.] + +The boats move on in solemn procession, and soon a tiny speck of light +appears, and grows gradually larger and brighter. By degrees the light +pervades dimly roof, walls, and transparent water, and then, all in a +moment, a flood of glorious sunshine gleams through the lofty portal +which we are approaching. Behind us fringes and bosses of stalactite are +tinged with the warm glow, and stand out in bold relief from the +darkness; before us the banks are green with grassy slopes and waving +trees; below us the river dances along in the sunlight as if full of joy +at escaping from prison, and we too share its happiness as we float back +into our every-day world from the gloomy glories of the Grottoes of Han. + +HELENA HEATH. + +[Illustration: "Jacintha was off her machine at once."] + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 107._) + + +For the next hour I felt extremely miserable, but, remembering that I +should, in all probability, see Jacintha to-morrow, I began to wish it +were possible to do something to improve my appearance for the occasion. +For not only were my clothes in a far from satisfactory condition, but +the soles of my boots were full of holes, so that one stocking touched +the ground. + +There was nothing to do but wander about and look at the chickens until +I was summoned to supper, which consisted of bread and very strong +cheese. + +On being shown to the bedroom, I found that it contained two beds, in +one of which a small boy was already reposing. Although he seemed to +watch me with considerable curiosity, he made no attempt at +conversation; but it was a very noisy house, and I found it impossible +to get to sleep for some time. + +When my room-fellow awoke me at about six o'clock the following morning, +the sun was shining brightly into the shabby room, so that this promised +excellently for the day's tramp. I said my prayers, and having washed, +dressed, and partaken of a somewhat scanty breakfast, wondering, as I +ate, what had by this time become of Patch, I set out, at a little after +half-past seven, in the direction of Hazleton. + +Presently, passing through a village, which seemed to be on the outskirts +of the town of Hazleton, I bought two penny sausage rolls at a small +baker's shop, and asked for a glass of water. As I walked on, eating the +rolls, it soon became evident that the town was close at hand. At +intervals I passed large houses, standing in their own grounds, and +carefully I read the names on their gate-posts, lest one should be +Colebrook Park. The path, which had been almost indistinguishable from +the roadway, was now asphalted, and I stopped to read a notice board +concerning vagrants, wondering whether I ought to be reckoned under that +denomination. I do not know whether the sun had affected me--for it +shone with brilliant force that morning--or whether I was tired after my +ten miles' walk without much food, but as I drew near to Hazleton, which +I had formerly felt so anxious to reach, my usual spirits seemed to +forsake me, and, if it had not been for the necessity to return the +locket, I think I should have passed on my way without making the least +attempt to see Jacintha again. + +I seemed to have lost pride in myself, so that it became difficult to +keep up much hope. Perhaps it might be possible to get the locket safely +into Jacintha's hands without seeing her, especially if there happened +to be a lodge at the entrance to Colebrook Park, when I might leave the +trinket with the lodge-keeper. + +With the object of making up my mind, I lay down on the wide border of +grass on one side of the road, thankful for the shelter of the hedge. It +was about half-past twelve, and several carriages passed as I lay there, +as well as a few bicyclists. But now the straight, wide road was clear; +no one was in sight, either to the right or to the left, until, from a +gate a hundred yards away, in the direction of the town, a girl on a +bicycle came forth, and I knew at once that she must be Jacintha. + +She wore a wide-brimmed, white straw hat, and a white cotton frock, and +was sitting very upright as she turned and coasted on her free-wheel +machine down the slight hill towards me. For an instant I thought of +turning away my face, so that, even if she remembered it, she should not +recognise me; but she looked so bright and pleasant an object in the +middle of the sunny road that, on the impulse of the moment, I rose to +my feet, crossed the margin of grass, and lifted the cloth cap which had +been given to me before I reached Polehampton. + +Jacintha was off her machine at once. 'Why,' she cried, 'you are the boy +who ran away!' + +'My name is Everard, you know,' I answered. + +'But I thought you said you were going to London?' she suggested. + +'So I am.' + +'It is not the nearest way from where you were to come through +Hazleton,' said Jacintha. + +'You see,' I explained, thrusting my fingers into my waistcoat pocket, +'I came to bring back your locket,' and I held it out towards her in the +palm of my right hand. + +'My locket?' she said, gazing at it while she held the handle of her +bicycle. + +'Yes,' I answered. 'I found it on the path just by the hedge where you +were standing.' + +'But I did not bring a locket with me from London,' she exclaimed, and I +felt immensely disappointed. + +'Isn't it really yours, then?' I asked. + +'Of course not,' she returned. 'How can it be if I didn't bring one?' +and then she removed one hand from the bicycle, and took the locket from +my palm, which I wished had not been so extremely grimy. 'I think it is +very pretty,' she continued, 'and I believe it is gold.' + +'Oh, it is gold right enough!' I said, 'because it has a hall-mark. It +is eighteen carat.' + +'Have you come out of your way just because you thought it was mine?' +she asked, giving me back the trinket. + +'It was not very far,' I persisted. + +'Rather nice of you, though,' said Jacintha. + +'If it comes to that,' I answered, 'you were rather nice to me that day. +Some girls would have given me away, and then I should have been back at +Ascot House before now.' + +As I was speaking, she took a small gold watch from her pocket. + +'I must not be late,' she cried, 'because both Dick and I were late for +breakfast.' + +'Who is Dick?' I asked, as she put away her watch. + +'Dick is my brother,' Jacintha explained. 'He only came down yesterday. +Dick's a year older than I am. I really ought to go,' she added. 'If my +uncle were to see me talking to you he mightn't like it.' + +'I suppose,' I cried a little angrily, 'he would think I was begging?' + +'At all events,' said Jacintha, candidly, 'he would be rather surprised, +you know. Because you do look most tremendously dirty--just as if you +were a regular tramp--and yet your face would be all right if it were +only washed and you had your hair properly cut.' + +I felt that my cheeks were growing red, and for the moment I was tempted +to make an angry retort, although, remembering what I owed to Jacintha, +I simply held out my hand and muttered 'Good-bye!' + +'Oh, you mustn't go on yet,' she exclaimed. 'I want to hear all you've +been doing. I must go in now, but please promise to wait till I come out +again. I won't be long.' + +'I am not in a hurry,' I admitted. + +'Only don't stay here,' she said. 'Wait till I am out of sight, and then +follow me until you come to our hedge. Right in the corner you will +find a place you can get through, and nobody ever comes to that field. +You get through the hedge and stay till I come back.' + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +I stood in the road while Jacintha mounted her bicycle and rode up the +slight hill to the gate, when she looked back and waved her hand as she +turned into the grounds. Having waited a few minutes, I followed her +directions, found the weak spot in the hedge, scrambled through, and at +once sat down on the grass. + +I saw I was in a remote corner of a large field, in which a few Jersey +cows were grazing. But this was not quite an ordinary field, as it +contained a good many foreign trees with iron railings round them. It +was more like a park. In the middle stood a small mound, looking as if +it had been made artificially, with a kind of arbour on the top +overgrown with some sort of creeper and shut in by trees. + +The time seemed to pass very slowly, but at last I saw the flash of +Jacintha's white dress in the sunshine as she walked rapidly towards my +corner, the house not being visible from where I sat. To my vexation, +however, she was not alone. A few yards behind came a boy of about my +own age and size, with a straw hat on the back of his head, a +red-and-blue blazer thrown over his white cricket shirt, and his hands +thrust in the pockets of his flannel trousers. + +While Jacintha tripped quickly over the grass, her companion, who, no +doubt, was her brother, seemed to follow far less cheerfully. I could +not help thinking there was something unwilling, almost resentful, in +his manner, so that I felt prepared to pay him back in his own coin. +Although I might look as dirty and as much like a tramp as Jacintha had +suggested, I was not going to stand any nonsense. + +When they reached the arbour they came to a standstill and seemed to be +holding an argument, until, a few minutes later, Jacintha tossed back +her long hair and set forth at a run in my direction, whereupon I went +to meet her. + +'You didn't mind my bringing Dick?' she suggested, looking doubtfully +into my face. + +'Have you told him, then?' I asked. + +'I told him yesterday,' she said. 'I mean I told him about seeing you in +the wheat-field, and your running away from school, and when I just had +time to whisper that I had met you before lunch, he said I must not +come; but I told him I had promised, and then he said he would come +too.' + +By this time we were within a few feet of Dick, who looked all right, +although he seemed to think a great deal of himself. He was fair, like +Jacintha, and he did not take his hands out of his pockets, so I put my +hands into my pockets also, and stared at him as hard as he stared at +me. + +'Dick!' cried Jacintha, 'this is Everard.' + +'Well, look here,' he answered, 'if you don't want to be collared, you +had better come in, instead of standing out here all day.' + +(_Continued on page 125._) + + + + +CUBAN LIZARDS. + + +The Cuban anolis is one of a large family of lizards, all of which are +confined to America and the West Indian islands. This family is nearly +related to that of the iguanas; but whereas some of the iguanas attain a +length of five or six feet, the anolis is always small. It is a +remarkably active little creature, and often singularly beautiful, +offering a striking contrast to the ugly and sluggish horned lizards of +North America and Mexico. It is usually rather more than a foot long, +and its general colour is a beautiful green. It has a white throat, and +a white band passing over each shoulder and for some distance along each +side. The little creature has the power of puffing out its throat, and +distending it till it looks like a ball upon its neck. When it is +irritated, angry, or alarmed, it invariably blows out its throat in this +way, and tries to frighten its enemy by this means. Most of these +lizards have also more or less power of changing their colour, like the +chameleon, and, indeed, a few of them can out-rival the chameleon in +this respect. + +A striking peculiarity of this lizard is the structure of its toes. They +are rather long, and furnished with sharp hooked claws, and the last +joint is swollen out into a kind of pad. At first sight we should be +inclined to think that these little swellings near the tips of the toes +would be rather an inconvenience to the anolis, by impeding its +movements. But a closer examination shows that these curious growths +have a use. They act to some extent as suckers, and enable the anolis to +climb the perpendicular faces of rocks, or even to hang from the under +side of a branch. + +The males of these little lizards are often very quarrelsome, especially +at certain times of the year, when two of them rarely meet without +having a fight. They fly at each other furiously, rolling over and over, +and biting savagely. These fierce battles generally end in one of the +combatants losing his tail, for in these lizards, as in many others, the +tail is not very strongly attached to the body. The victor sometimes +makes off with the tail of his foe in his mouth, and sometimes he even +devours it. The loss of his tail is a great blow to the vanquished +anolis, for he seems to have a great pride in it. When he is deprived of +it, he accepts defeat at once, and though he recovers from the injury +without much trouble, he is generally but a timid and crest-fallen +creature afterwards. He seems to look upon the loss of his tail as a +disgrace--very much, perhaps, as a regiment of soldiers regards the loss +of its colours. + +Another pretty little Cuban lizard is the chameleon-eyed lizard. It is +of a brownish colour spotted with white, especially about the head. It +has many resemblances to the anolis just described, being small, +slender, and active. Both frequent trees, thickets, and rocky places, +where they run and climb with such quickness as to be sometimes easily +mistaken for birds hopping to and fro. The numerous tropical insects are +their usual food, varied occasionally by berries and fruits. + +W. A. ATKINSON. + +[Illustration: Cuban Lizards.] + +[Illustration: "The rabbit bit the stoat in the most infuriated +manner."] + + + + +A MOTHER RABBIT'S COURAGE. + +A True Anecdote. + + +Not long ago a gentleman heard of a remarkable fight between a stoat and +a rabbit; he gives an account of it in the _Field_ newspaper. His +gardener was walking in an orchard when he heard a scuffling and +squealing on the other side of a hedge. He looked over, and to his great +surprise, saw a rabbit in close pursuit of a stoat. Just as they reached +the hedge the rabbit caught up with its enemy, but the stoat hid in the +hedge for a few seconds, and then ran along it swiftly, escaping the +rabbit's notice for a few minutes. Then it rushed out into the field +again, some thirty yards from where it had entered the hedge. Its object +soon became clear. 'It pulled a young rabbit out of a bunch of grass,' +says the writer, 'and began to drag it to the hedge. When the old rabbit +turned and saw the stoat it went for it again, and jumped on it and bit +it in the most infuriated manner, driving it away from the young rabbit, +and running it squealing with terror into the hedge, where they both +eventually disappeared.' It is sad to learn that this brave attempt of +the mother rabbit to save her young one was in vain; the little bunny +was dead when the gardener picked it up a few minutes later. + +Stoats will often pursue rabbits across country for very long distances, +going steadily on and following the track by the power of scent alone; +but it is very seldom that a rabbit will show such courage as to turn +the tables and attack its foe. + + + + +MAGIC RODS. + + +The people of the olden time had great faith in the powers of magic rods +and wands. Not only was this the fact amongst the Greeks and Romans, but +the belief was found in our own country not so very long ago. Certain +trees were famed for their magical virtues, because they were supposed +to be the home of some spirit, and rods cut from them were said to have +wonderful powers. The belief survives in the conjurer's wand, which, as +we all know, does marvels when waved to the sound of 'Hey presto!' + +To the pretended wonder-worker of the past, his rod was a most important +thing, for by its help he accomplished marvels, or at least pretended to +do so. There is a story told about a man who had seen a magician produce +water by means of his rod. Getting hold of the rod one day, he thought +he would supply his house with water by its aid. He said to it, 'Bring +water.' Soon the wand rushed to and fro with big pails, but when the +floors were getting flooded, he thought there was enough water, and told +the wand to stop. He did not know the word of command, and so the wand +went on just the same. In his rage, he took a chopper, and cut the wand +in two, but instead of stopping it brought twice as much; a double lot +of pails appeared, and at last the torrent of water washed away the +house of the meddlesome man. + +The magic rod or wand has had several names given to it. A common one +was that of 'divining rod.' By the Germans it was called the 'wishing +rod,' or 'wishing thorn,' which points to the fact that it was often +cut from the blackthorn or sloe. It was supposed that the person who +could use the magic rod most successfully was the seventh son of a +seventh son, if such a person could be found. The wand, too, should not +be cut from very old wood, but it must be more than a year old. Some +folk said that the twig chosen to make this rod ought to be one upon +which the sun shone both in the morning and afternoon. Again, the magic +rod was not simply a straight piece of wood; it had to be of a +particular shape--that of the letter Y. When using it, the hands grasped +the two arms, so that the unforked part pointed outwards. In houses +about the West of England, people will show visitors magic or divining +rods, cut many years ago, and now carefully kept as memorials of the +past. + +These rods had various uses. They were not only supposed to show where +metal was hidden, or springs of water might be found, but one brought to +a person ill of fever might cure him, though he had to pay whatever was +asked for it, and make no objection to the price. In some countries, men +believed that a magic rod might be got to point the direction in which a +lost person had gone. + +The Chinese, ages before the Westerns knew them, had their magic rods, +and generally cut them from fruit-trees, the peach being often chosen. +But in Europe, the hazel or cob-nut tree stands at the head of the list +of the trees favoured. German farmers formerly cut a hazel rod in +spring, and when the first thunder-shower came, they waved it over the +corn that was stored up, believing that this would make it keep sound +till it was wanted. Next to the hazel in importance was the rowan or +mountain ash, a tree always associated with the pixies and fairies; +magic rods were frequently made from it, and also little crosses, which, +if put over the door, were supposed to bring good fortune into a house. +Another tree furnishing such rods was the willow, and another was the +apple; one carefully avoided was the elder. + +J. R. S. C. + + + + +OUR PUSS. + + + She came with the evening shades, + At the close of a winter day, + And her manner implied, + As she trotted inside, + 'I am here, and have come to stay.' + + Where she came from nobody knows, + And no one has claimed her yet; + But she made so free, + It was easy to see + That she had been somebody's pet. + + Now the homeless waif on our hearth + Gives a homelike look to the place; + With her warm grey fur, + And her satisfied purr, + And content in her comely face. + + She has all the craft of her race, + Though she does not look like a thief, + For she climbed of late + Up to Charlie's plate, + And calmly ate some of his beef! + + But we all have our little faults, + And well will it be with us + If, when ruin impends, + We can win new friends, + Like our gentle and brave stray puss. + + + + +THE CYPHER TELEGRAM. + + +'What a shame it is, Hugo, that when your father is giving the whole +class this splendid treat in honour of your recovery, you yourself +should be the only boy absent.' + +Hugo laughed somewhat sadly. 'Yes, I should like to be going, but the +doctor says that I must not walk much before Christmas, and no one wants +to spend three days in the woods in the middle of December. I should +have liked the chance of catching a swallow-tailed butterfly for my +collection.' + +'I will try and get one for you,' answered Franz, 'though they are +scarce this year. But what is this? How did you get your medal back?' as +he picked up a silver disc from the table. + +Hugo had won this medal a year before for a Latin composition for boys +under fifteen, and when Baron Rosenthal's beautiful collection of coins +and antique silver had been stolen, the medal had gone too. + +'A friend of Father's saw it in a Berlin curiosity show among a lot of +coins, and he sent it back to me.' + +'And the coins--were they also your father's?' + +'He has gone to Berlin to look at them, and he will be back to-night. +But all coins are not easy to recognise. If it had been any of the +silver boxes or cups he would have known his own at once.' + +'And none of these have been traced?' + +'No, not one. My father thinks they have probably been sold in some +foreign country--America, perhaps, or England. But see, he left this +money for you, so that you can let me know what you are doing. Then you +can send me a long cypher telegram every day from the station on the +Observatory, and it will give me something to do to translate it,' and +he handed Franz some silver. + +During his illness, Hugo had occupied himself in inventing a most +elaborate cypher, which was the envy of the whole school. Not even the +masters could read it, and it was an endless source of amusement to +himself and Franz, who alone was in the secret. + +'All right!' answered Franz; 'I will send you three telegrams, and catch +you three swallow-tails too if I can manage it.' + +As he went out of the room, his school-fellow looked wistfully at the +pair of crutches that stood beside his invalid's chair. He was the only +son of a very rich German nobleman, and six months before he had been +nearly killed in a railway accident. When he began to recover, the Baron +had promised to give a special treat to his son's class in honour of +the event, and now that the time for the annual excursion had arrived, +he was paying all expenses for the boys to remain three days in the +forest instead of, as was usual, only one. It is the custom in German +schools for each master to take his class for a long day's expedition +into the country during the summer, in which he is supposed to open +their eyes to the beauties of nature and the wonders of the botanical +world; and the Baron, who was a very wealthy man, had caused this +privilege to be extended that year. But now his son was unable to enjoy +it, and this use of telegrams was a suggestion of his father's to +prevent his being too depressed by the thought of his disappointment. + +[Illustration: "He looked wistfully at the pair of crutches."] + + * * * * * + +At five o'clock on the following morning there was a very cheerful party +of boys waiting at the station for the little hill-climbing train that +was to take them into the heart of the Black Forest. The master, Herr +Groos, was also in the best of spirits, in spite of his failure to make +any of the boys listen while he explained to them how the train was +enabled to climb a hill. The boys, with their yellow caps, which was the +distinctive colour of their class, and their butterfly-nets, botanical +presses, and green specimen-cases, were much too excited to listen to +him. + +At last the train arrived, and they all filed into an open third-class +carriage, whose only other occupants were two strangers, a tall and a +short one, also armed with butterfly-nets and enormous green cases. + +'Did you see Hugo yesterday?' inquired Herr Groos of Franz, who was +sitting next him. + +'Yes, sir; I was there a long time. He wished he was coming with us.' + +'Well, we all wish it too,' said the master heartily. 'What does he do +with himself all day? Invent more cyphers?' + +'No, sir, he does not mean to invent a new one,' answered Franz, +laughing, 'till some one has solved the present one. I am to send him a +long telegram in it every day.' + +'What is that?' asked the short stranger, good-humouredly. 'I did not +know there was such a thing as a cypher that could not be solved.' + +'One of my pupils has invented one that no one has solved yet,' answered +Herr Groos proudly. + +'He should let me see it,' laughed the stranger. 'I would undertake to +read it in half an hour.' + +Then the master and the two strangers began to talk sociably together, +and the conversation drifted to a discussion on the best place in the +locality for the capture of butterflies, especially swallow-tails. + +Franz listened attentively, for he was firmly resolved that he would not +return without at least one specimen to adorn Hugo's collection. Herr +Groos was of opinion that the Kuehberg was the best place for them; but +the strangers said, 'No, for every one found on the summit of the +Kuehberg there are at least three on the sunny slopes of the +Hirsch-felsen on the opposite side of the valley.' + +But at last the train journey came to an end, and the boys arrived at +the little inn which was to be their head-quarters. There they were soon +devouring rolls and hot coffee, almost faster than the inn-keeper and +his good-tempered wife could bring them out of the kitchen. Then, with +their pockets and knapsacks full of rolls and German sausage, they +started on their first day's expedition to a little lake at the foot of +the Kuehberg. It was a lovely walk, and as they passed now under the cool +green pine-trees, and now along sunny slopes where the cows, with their +tinkling bells, were almost buried in sweet-scented flowers, both +botanists and butterfly-hunters were busy. Finally, after two hours' +walk, they reached their halting-place at the edge of the forest lake. + +(_Continued on page 130._) + +[Illustration: "I took the locket from my waistcoat again."] + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 119._) + + +Jacintha led the way up a path on the mound, and we all entered the +summer-house, which was quite large, with seats round the sides and a +table in the middle. + +'Have you got the chocolates, Dick?' she asked, and at the same time +began to unload her own pocket, which contained a bag with some +preserved apricots in it, two oranges, and two pears. 'I often bring my +dessert out here,' she explained, 'only to-day Auntie said she hoped I +should not make myself ill.' + +'Mind you don't,' said Dick. + +'Have a pear, Everard,' she suggested, and accordingly I took one. +'Uncle has just started out with Auntie in the motor-car,' she +continued, 'so I want you to begin at the beginning and tell us +everything, you know--just everything.' + +I looked at Dick, who was pinching an orange so as to make a hole in it +to suck the juice, but he did not speak; so, having eaten a preserved +apricot, I sat down next to Jacintha, wishing she had not so hastily +drawn away her white skirt, and began. + +I cannot accuse myself of speaking a word that was not true that +afternoon, but it must be confessed that the chief object was to impress +Dick with the conviction that I was not what he might easily take me to +be. Accordingly, I glossed over the character of Aunt Marion's +household, and dwelt upon the wealth and importance of Captain Knowlton. +I brought tears to Jacintha's eyes when I told her of the loss of the +_Seagull_, of his death and the difference in my treatment at the hands +of Mr. Turton; but what seemed to have the greatest effect on her +brother was the story of my encounter with the tramp who stole my money, +and the other events of my journey. + +'Still,' he said, being the first to speak when I ended the story, 'I +don't see what you are going to do when you get to London.' + +'Neither do I,' cried Jacintha. + +'Oh, I shall do something right enough,' I answered with all the +confidence I could assume. + +'I tell you what I believe,' said Dick. 'I believe Captain Knowlton is +not dead after all. You see if I am not right. You don't know really +that he was drowned.' + +'If he were not,' I answered, 'he would have sent a telegram, because he +would know the _Seagull_ had been reported lost.' + +'Still, you cannot tell,' Dick insisted, 'and if I were you, as soon as +I got to London, I should go to his rooms in the Albany.' + +But this was a point I had already considered. + +'You see,' I said, 'very likely Mr. Turton has been there and told them +to keep me----' + +'I did not think of that,' Dick admitted. 'Still, I don't see what you +will do in London. And, of course, I live there, though I'm going to a +crammer's at Richmond next term.' + +'Everard was going to be sent to Sandhurst, too,' said Jacintha quietly. + +'What a lark,' he exclaimed, 'if Captain Knowlton should turn up, and +you should be there at the same time.' + +But this was more than my imagination at the moment was capable of. I +felt very, very far from going to Sandhurst, and, indeed, a kind of +sense that Dick and Jacintha belonged to a different world from mine was +fast growing upon me. + +'I say,' said Dick, presently, for his manner had now become all that I +could desire, 'how much money have you got left?' + +'One and twopence,' I answered, and he looked solemn at that. + +'But still,' cried Jacintha, 'you forget the locket.' + +'Why, of course, there is the locket,' said her brother; 'let us have a +look at it, Everard.' + +I took it from my waistcoat again, and holding it close to his nose, +Dick at once looked for the hall-mark. + +'It is gold right enough,' he added. + +'You can sell it for quite a lot of money,' urged Jacintha, 'because you +picked it up, and you can never find the real owner. I should think you +would get a good deal for it.' + +'If you don't mind my saying so----' began Dick, and pausing, he looked +into my face. + +'Cut along,' I said. + +'Well, if you took it to sell, the chap might--he might think you had +stolen it.' + +'You see,' said Jacintha hastily, 'we could take you to the bath-room, +and Dick could lend you some of his clothes; but Auntie would be certain +to find out, and Uncle has kept Mr. Turton's card, and he said that if +he saw you he should take you back to Castlemore.' + +'Can't go back,' said Dick, in a tone of authority. 'I know!' he +exclaimed, after a thoughtful silence. + +'What?' demanded his sister. + +'Look here, Everard,' he explained, 'there is a good shop in High +Street, Foster's, where my people buy things. I know old Foster--a +decent sort of chap. If I were to take the locket----' + +'What would you say when he asked you where you got it?' asked Jacintha. + +At that we all stared into each other's faces, and I felt disappointed +at the suggestion. For I had judgment enough, after my experience in +selling my watch and chain, to see that in my present untidy condition I +could not myself deal with the trinket to the best advantage. A +respectable jeweller would probably decline to buy it at all, whereas a +less honest dealer would not give me a third of its value. + +'I have it!' cried Dick, after a few minutes' pause. 'You drop the +locket on the floor, Everard,' and with a glimmering of his purpose, I +took it again from my pocket and let it fall on to the boarded floor of +the summer-house. He immediately stooped. + +'Now,' he said, 'I can tell old Foster I have picked up a locket and +that I don't know whose it is, and I want to sell it. I will get my +bicycle and ride into the town at once; but look here, old chap,' he +added, taking my arm in quite a friendly way, 'you had better not wait +here. Just hang about outside in the road, and don't let them see you if +they come back first in the motor-car. I say, Jacintha, it will look +better if you come to Foster's too.' + +'It's awfully good of you,' I answered as we all went down the slope. +'How much do you think I shall get?' + +'I should think you might get twenty-five shillings,' said Dick, as if +he knew all about it. + +'I wish I might,' I cried. + +'Well,' he insisted, 'you get into the road and keep dark a bit, and we +will scorch into the town like anything.' + +With that they both set off across the field while I scrambled through +the gap in the hedge, and returned to my former position on the grassy +side of the road, lying down and waiting expectantly to see Dick and +Jacintha ride out through the gate; and with the prospect of obtaining +possession of twenty-five shillings, it really began to seem as if the +foundation of my fortune had been laid. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +A very few minutes later Dick rode through the gate followed by Jacintha, +who raised an arm as she turned to the right, pedalled up the slight +hill, and soon disappeared as she began to descend on the other side. +Rising to my feet I had waved my arm in return, and I was strolling +about the grass beside the road, already impatient to see Dick and +Jacintha returning and to learn the full extent of my wealth, when I +heard a motor-car panting along the road. + +A glance showed that it was driven by the man who had accompanied +Jacintha that morning she spied me in the corn-field, and a few moments +later he steered the car into his gate. It seemed a long time before I +saw the head of Dick and then of his sister appear above the crest of +the hill. Dick, in his eagerness to reach me, pedalled all the way down. + +'I say, Everard,' he exclaimed as soon as he reached me, 'how much do +you think?' + +'Did you get the twenty-five shillings?' I asked. + +'Two pounds----' began Jacintha, dismounting from her bicycle. + +'Let me tell him,' cried Dick. 'Two pounds three and sixpence,' he added +with an air of triumph. + +'I am most awfully obliged to you,' I said, as he took a purse from his +jacket pocket. + +'Not so bad,' he continued, 'is it? You see I told old Foster he must +give a tip-top price, and of course he knows me. At first, I thought he +was not going to buy the thing at all; he said he didn't know whether my +uncle would like it, and all that.' + +'And he said we ought to have bills printed to say it was found,' added +Jacintha. + +'But I talked him out of that,' said Dick, 'and here is the money,' he +continued, counting out the two sovereigns, a half-crown and a shilling. + +'Mind you don't lose any of it,' suggested Jacintha. + +'No fear,' I answered. + +'I say, where are you going to sleep to-night?' asked Dick. + +'Oh, well,' I replied, and I am afraid that my newly acquired wealth +made me a little proud, 'I dare say I can find an hotel in Hazleton.' + +'Do you think they will take you in?' said Dick. + +'I wonder whether we shall see you in London,' cried Jacintha, 'because +we are going home next week.' + +'And I say, Everard,' said her brother, 'take my word for it, I should +not be a scrap surprised if Captain Knowlton was rescued after all.' + +'Dick,' suggested Jacintha, 'don't you think we ought to go in to tea?' + +'Perhaps we ought,' he admitted. 'Well, good-bye,' he added, and with +that he held out his hand. When I shook Jacintha's a moment afterwards, +I wished once again that my own hands were cleaner. + +'Good-bye,' she cried. 'I am glad the locket was not mine,' and then +they both re-mounted their bicycles, rode up the hill, waved their hands +once more, and disappeared from my sight. + +In spite of the possession of the money for the locket, a sense of +depression fell upon me. I had grown quickly friendly with the pair, and +they seemed to bring me back to the life which I felt more acutely than +before I had lost for ever. + +(_Continued on page 134._) + + + + +A LESSON IN STEERING. + + +It was a perfect day for the water, and the Fletcher boys, with a good +supply of sandwiches, meat-patties and ginger-beer, had gone off for a +day's boating. Their sister Daisy thought it was very hard lines to be +left at home, but Mrs. Fletcher would not allow her to go unless a +boatman were in charge. + +'The boys know what they are about, and I feel fairly happy about them,' +she said, 'but I cannot let my little daughter run any risks.' + +This was disappointing, though the real grievance lay in the fact that +the boys did not seem very anxious to have her. They were very fond of +their sister, but, of course, they said there were times when a girl was +'a bit in the way.' + +So Daisy wandered down to the pier, feeling rather forlorn, and longing +for the time when the boys' boat would come in sight. + +Old Steve Tucker was sitting on the end of the pier, smoking his pipe, +when Daisy came along. + +'Fine day for a sail, Missie,' he said, and indeed the dancing blue +waters of the bay looked most inviting. + +Then Daisy poured out her troubles, and the old man shook his head in +sympathy. + +'I wonder now if you would be allowed to come along with me in my little +sailing-boat?' he suggested. + +'Do you mean it?' Daisy cried. 'Oh, you good old Steve! I will run home +and ask Mother this minute.' + +'Right you are, Miss Daisy! and I will just go down and put the _Mary +Jane_ ship-shape.' + +Daisy soon came flying back, having gained the desired permission. + +Soon the little boat was dancing over the waves. The breeze filled the +sail, and they made such speed that the houses on the shore fast +dwindled behind them. Old Steve showed Daisy how to manage the sail and +then gave her a lesson in steering. At first the sail slackened and the +boat wobbled a little, but his pupil soon grew clever at keeping the +head to the wind and steering a straight course. + +'Oh, I am enjoying myself!' she cried. 'This is ever so much better than +going with the boys, because they always want to manage the sail and the +steering, and I never have a chance of learning anything.' + +'Well, Missy, you shall come out sailing with me a few times, and I will +soon teach you all there is to know about a boat.' + +'And then they will not be able to refuse to take me because I am no +good, will they?' + +'No fear, Missy! You will soon know as much as the young gentlemen--and +I do believe that is their boat just ahead.' + +'So it is,' cried Daisy, in great excitement. 'Now we will race them, +Steve, and give them a surprise.' + +'Ship ahoy!' called Daisy as they flew past, and her brothers were +indeed astonished to see their sister steering the boat like any old +salt. After that they never said that a girl was 'a bit in the way.' + +[Illustration: "Daisy soon grew clever at keeping the head to the +wind."] + +[Illustration: ON A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY.] + +[Illustration: "She managed to drag her on shore."] + + + + +THE GIRL WHO DID NOT RUN AWAY. + + +A little French girl only seven years old, named Eudoxie, was playing +with tiny Philomene in a field, when the young child made two stains on +her pink pinafore. + +'Mother will scold,' thought the little maid, and trotted off to the +river to wash them out. + +A plank stretched out from the bank to make it easy for people to draw +water, and on this Philomene stepped, but she did not know how rotten it +was. Before she could touch the water there was a splash, and the little +girl was in the river. + +Eudoxie heard her cry out, but did not run away as some children have +been known to do when a companion was in danger. She ran at once to the +bank, and caught her little friend by the foot, nearly losing her own +balance in doing so. + +Though Philomene, all wet and breathless, was a heavy weight for +Eudoxie, still she managed to drag her on shore, kiss her, and try to +console her. + +But poor little Philomene was frightened at the idea of facing 'Maman' +after her scrape; she must have been rather a scolding mother, as the +little girl was afraid to go home in her wet clothes. + +So Eudoxie partly undressed in the sunshine, and wrapped her in her own +frock, while she ran to beg a change of clothes from the sharp-spoken +Madame. + +The mother asked why they were wanted. + +'Promise not to scold, and I will tell you,' said the child. The promise +was given, and Eudoxie told the adventure. 'It was not Philo's fault,' +she said. + +'Oh, then! my wicked, naughty, precious, darling Philo! take me to her,' +said Madame. + +Poor Philomene was sitting smiling in the sunshine when the two reached +her, Eudoxie with her garments, the mother with tears and kisses all +waiting to be showered on her tiny daughter. + +Some one told the story in Paris, and many people were pleased with +Eudoxie's presence of mind, and the French Humane Society presented the +brave girl with a medal for saving the life of her friend. + + + + +THE HARDEST WORK. + +A Fable. + + +A famous Persian king once called around him all the wisest men in his +kingdom, and put the following question to them: 'What is the hardest +work in the world?' + +Some answered one thing and some another, but it was thought that still +harder work might exist. + +At last a sage came forward and said, 'I have lived many years and seen +a great many things. I have come to the conclusion that the hardest work +in the world is to be forced to do nothing at all; and no one can spend +the whole day without doing something or other.' + +The king, anxious to prove the truth of it, tried his best to find out +whether this were so or not, as did also his courtiers, but they were +obliged to own that what the sage had stated was the truth. Hence the +proverb: 'No work, the hardest work.' + + + + +PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS. + +6.--DOUBLETS. + + +Changing one letter at a time, in as few steps as possible, make + +1. Cat into Dog. +2. Yes " No. +3. Will " Won't. +4. Pony " Cart. +5. Dry " Wet. + + +7.--ARITHMOGRAPH. + +_A Short Proverb._ + + 1.--9, 10, 12, 11, 8. A French city. + 2.--9, 7, 10, 12. A delicious fruit. + 3.--12, 10, 8, 9. A kind of file. + 4.--3, 2, 4, 5. To turn in different directions. + 5.--12, 11, 9. To tear, to cut asunder. + 6.--1, 2, 10, 5. Close at hand. + 7.--1, 2, 5, 3, 4, 8. Organs of sensation. + 8.--8, 9, 10, 11, 1. A country in the south of Europe. + 9.--8, 9, 10, 1. A very short space. +10.--6, 5, 11, 9. To fall in drops. + +C. J. B. + +[_Answers on page 167._] + + + + +ANSWER TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 98. + +5.--_Evangeline._ + +1. Nile. +2. Lean. +3. Liege. +4. Veal. +5. Vile. +6. Nail. +7. Geneva. +8. Nave. +9. Gain. + +ANSWER TO PICTURE PUZZLE ON PAGE 28. + +This picture contains the key to itself in the letters which are found +on the walls, the corner-stone, and the gateway--I, C, U, S, X. If these +letters are named in the order given, they form the sentence 'I see you, +Essex,' which Queen Elizabeth is said to have written on a wall or a +window of one of her palaces, as a warning, or perhaps an encouragement, +to Lord Essex. + + + + +THE CYPHER TELEGRAM. + +(_Concluded from page 124._) + + +Though it was still only eleven o'clock, the boys were quite ready for +dinner when they reached the lake; and when it was finished and they had +hidden the rest of their provisions in some bushes, Herr Groos gave them +leave to amuse themselves as best they chose till he sounded his horn to +collect them for another meal at four o'clock. He himself was going to +take charge of a botanising party on the Hersch-felsen, and a junior +master was to superintend those who wished to fish in the lake; but +Franz decided to join neither party, as his one idea was to catch a +swallow-tailed butterfly for his friend. At last, finding no one with a +similar ambition, he started on his quest alone. + +'I will try the Kuehberg first,' he said to himself. 'If we should meet +the strangers again, it would be fun to prove to them that Herr Groos +was right and they were wrong.' + +It was very hot as Franz toiled up the mountain-side, and when at last +he reached the place where his search was to begin, he lay down panting +under some trees at the edge of the wood. On the opposite slope he +could see the yellow caps of his comrades, and the tall figure of Herr +Groos; but where he himself was all was solitude and silence. After a +few minutes' rest he rose, and having filled his cap with some delicious +berries, sat down, almost buried amongst the cool, green plants, to +enjoy them. They were soon finished, but he was still too lazy to move, +and rolling himself down till the cranberries nearly met above him, he +fell fast asleep. + +He was awakened by the sound of voices, and, thinking it was some of his +schoolfellows, he lay still, meaning to surprise them. He was so well +hidden that he knew he could not be discovered unless he moved. Then he +realised that it was not his comrades, but the two strangers from the +train. + +'Look at all those boys over there,' said the tall man. 'It was +fortunate that we put them off the scent. If they had chosen to spend +the day up here it would have upset our plans nicely.' + +'Are you sure, though, that they are all there?' asked the other, +doubtfully. 'There were thirty-two in the train, and I can only count +twenty-five yellow caps now.' + +'You are right, Schmidt,' answered the tall man, after a short pause. +'And who can tell where the others may be?' + +'Not I! We must put off our digging till we are sure that they have all +gone away for the night.' + +'We shall miss the American boat,' said his friend, angrily, 'and all +because of a pack of schoolboys!' + +'Not necessarily. If we return to Freistadt by the nine o'clock train +instead of by the five o'clock, we ought still to catch the steamer at +Hamburg. That is the worst of taking things from a well-known man like +Rosenthal. He makes it unsafe to dispose of a single recognisable thing +in Germany. We were lucky to get rid of the coins, even.' + +'And a mere nothing we got for them,' replied the grumbler. 'Are you +certain you remember where we buried the rest of the collection?' + +'Under this stone here, by the big tree, and it has evidently never been +moved since we left it. See, the cranberries are already beginning to +grow round it.' + +'Which shall we take this time? I wish we could get the stuff all sold +and done with!' + +'So do I! but we cannot take too much to one country. If we make a good +haul in America, we will return, and try and see what we can do in +England with the rest.' + +'If we cannot dig now, what are we to do?' asked the tall man, +disgustedly. + +'We must go on to the Observatory, and pass the time there. There is +nothing else to be done.' + +When they had quite gone, Franz raised himself slowly. There was the +great stone, just as the short man had said, and underneath it were +evidently most of the treasures stolen from Baron Rosenthal. What was +the best thing to do? If he dug the treasures up and hid them elsewhere, +they would be safe, but then the thieves would probably escape. If he +went straight back to Freistadt by train and warned the police, Herr +Groos would think he was lost, and there would be such a hue and cry in +the woods that the strangers would probably hear of it and have their +suspicions aroused. + +Then an inspiration came to him. He would telegraph to Hugo in cypher, +and then, even if Baron Rosenthal himself were not there, Hugo would +have the sense to arrange matters. It took him some time to concoct his +telegram, and put it into cypher. It ran as follows:-- + +'A tall man in grey and a shorter man in brown, with butterfly nets and +big specimen cases, will reach Freistadt station at ten-thirty. Have +them arrested, as their cases contain some of your father's silver, and +the rest is hidden in the woods.--FRANZ.' + +Visitors were always allowed to use the telegraph at the Observatory on +the top of the hill, and so he decided to go there at once and send off +his message. Then a fresh danger occurred to him. The two strangers were +going to the little inn by the Observatory. If they chanced to see his +telegram, or even asked to look at it, he would arouse their suspicions +if he declined to show it, and yet, if the short stranger were as clever +as he professed to be, he would probably decipher it and learn +everything. So he wrote a companion message, using some of the same +words and figures as in the cypher one, but arranging them so that they +could not possibly be translated to make sense. + +When he arrived at the top of the hill, he found the two strangers, as +he had expected, sitting at a little table outside the building. + +'Hallo, youngster, have you caught your swallow-tail yet?' inquired the +tall one. + +'I have not even seen one,' replied Franz, truthfully. 'I am afraid they +have all left the Hirsch-felsen since you were there. I gave it up at +last and came on here to send a cypher telegram to my friend.' + +'Ah! the cypher!' said the fat man. 'Show me what you are going to say, +and I will warrant myself to read it.' + +'Very well, but be quick, for I want to send it off,' replied Franz, +seeing that this would disarm suspicion. + +He gave the strangers the copy he had specially prepared for them, and, +to his surprise, the stout man _did_ manage to read it, though, +naturally, he thought nothing of its contents. Then Franz took the real +telegram to the clerk at the Observatory, who dispatched it carefully, +though he chaffed Franz a good deal about the enormous importance of a +message that required to be sent so secretly. + +When he rejoined his companions by the lake, just in time for the +afternoon meal, he was well teased by them because he was the only boy +who had no important find to announce. Then followed a merry walk back +through the woods, then supper, and then bed, and through it all Franz +never had a chance of a private talk with Herr Groos. + +The next morning the boys were still at breakfast when the early morning +train came creaking into the station, and the first person to come +towards the inn was Baron Rosenthal. + +He shook Franz warmly by the hand. 'Thanks to you, my boy,' he said, +'the thieves are in prison. It only remains for you to show us where the +rest of the silver is hidden.' + +The other boys gazed at Franz in surprise, but he was not long in +telling the whole story, and explaining how it was that he had been the +only boy who had had no time to collect specimens. Half an hour later +the whole party started for the Kuehberg, with Franz to guide them. + +[Illustration: "'It was fortunate that we put them off the scent.'"] + +Afterwards, when the winter came, and the boys of the class discussed +the great summer excursion, they always agreed that the most exciting +part of it had been the digging for Baron Rosenthal's treasures under +the pine tree. Not a few of them also, though without success, tried to +invent a cypher that should rival the famous one which had proved of +such real and unexpected value. + +A. KATHARINE PARKES. + +[Illustration: The Great Northern Diver.] + + + + +THE GREAT NORTHERN DIVER. + + +Amongst our water-loving birds there are few that can rival the great +Northern Diver. He is strong of wing, with remarkable legs and feet, and +a body so formed that it can take in a wonderful amount of air. He is a +beautiful bird, too, and a glance at him gives you the impression that +he is very knowing--as is, indeed, the fact. He has not a tuneful voice, +for he does not belong to the singing birds, but he utters a plaintive +and wild cry, which seems to suit the regions that are usually his home. +For, though the species does not keep entirely to the cold northern +regions, where summer is brief and winter is long, they are his chief +resorts, and their loneliness seems to suit him. He has often been seen +along British shores, in the Firth of Forth, for instance, and upon the +coast of Wales and Ireland. But if you wish to see the great northern +diver in abundance, you must go beyond the Hebrides, towards Labrador, +Iceland, and Spitzbergen. Nature has provided the bird with the means of +obtaining a great amount of animal heat, which enables him to bear +comfortably the intense cold of arctic regions. + +A solitary specimen often attracts the notice of those on board passing +ships. They observe on a headland this tall, gaunt, white-breasted +sea-bird, motionless, it may be, yet looking round sharply with his keen +eyes. Is he thinking of the family cares of the last season, or +considering where the next meal is to come from? Suddenly he moves and +darts towards the sea, into which he plunges. Two or three minutes +after, he reappears many yards away. He has probably been fishing. He +seems to know before entering the water what the fish are doing, and the +formation of his body and limbs makes him a capital diver. It is the +habit of the Northern Diver to seek out especially the shoals of +herrings and sprats, of which both young and old birds consume great +quantities. There is only one brood yearly, the young birds hatching +during the brief summer of the far north. + +The bird's head and neck are black, the bill being strong and pointed at +the tip. The breast is white, but the back, tail, and legs are black, +with scattered white spots; its feet are webbed. Though his wings are +short, and his body appears heavy, the Northern Diver can fly powerfully +and swiftly, owing to the strength of his muscles. The body, too, is +smooth and rounded, adapted either for swimming or flying. Another name +for it is the Immer, or Immer Diver. + +J. R. S. C. + + + + +ENCOURAGEMENT. + + +Be as encouraging as you can. There is no end to the good sometimes done +by a few kindly words. + +When Sydney Smith was a boy at school, a visitor found him one day, in +the play-hour, poring over a lesson-book. 'Clever boy!' said the +stranger, as he bestowed a shilling upon the young student, 'that is the +way to conquer the world.' + +This bit of encouragement brightened the neglected boy's life like a +ray of sunshine. That kind man was not forgotten by Sydney Smith, who +was never weary of praising his deed. Little dreamed the stranger, as he +went his way, of the great good effected by his pleasant words. The lad +whom he had encouraged rose soon afterwards to be prefect of his school, +and, as we know, became in after years a very distinguished man, and +possibly the first real start he had in life was this little piece of +encouragement. + +E. D. + + + + +TRAVELLERS' TALES. + + + They say there is a country where snowstorms never fall, + And sliding is a game they never knew: + They never saw a lake + Paved with ice that wouldn't break-- + I would rather stay in England, wouldn't you? + + They say there is a country where the bright sun never sets, + But still continues shining all night through; + And you needn't go to bed, + For there's always light o'er head-- + That's a country I should like, wouldn't you? + + They say there is a country where the people all talk French-- + I can't imagine what they ever do! + For who amid their chatter + Could understand such patter? + I should answer 'Speak in English,' wouldn't you? + + They say there is a country where the women cannot walk, + And everything is made out of bamboo, + And the people's eyes are wee, + And they live on rice and tea-- + I should like to go and see them, wouldn't you? + + They say there is a country where the elephants are wild, + And never even heard about our Zoo; + And through the woods they roam + Like gentlemen at home-- + I should like to go and see them, wouldn't you? + +F. W. H. + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 127._) + + +After a few minutes' useless waiting, and wishing that I might have +accompanied Jacintha and Dick into the house, I turned my back towards +Colebrook Park and set out in the direction of the town, which I entered +by a steep hill. The hill brought me into the middle of the High Street, +at about half-past four in the afternoon, and my attention was soon +absorbed by the fresh surroundings. In the street was a constant stream +of well-dressed persons, there were good shops, many carriages, and I +stood at the corner wondering which way to turn. Every now and then I +put my hand into my pocket to make certain the money was safe, and at +last I began to feel a certain sense of recklessness, as if I had now +the power to launch out into extravagance. To tell the truth it seemed +difficult to be in possession of such a sum without immediately looking +out for something to buy, and indeed there were several things I could +have added to my stock with advantage. + +On the left I came to the railway station; the line passed over the +road, and beyond it the High Street sloped steeply upwards. At the top +of the hill I saw some public baths. Noticing on the opposite side of +the way a large shop with cheap clothing in the window, I entered and +made my first purchase, which consisted of a pair of stockings and some +shoes--of brown canvas, because these were the cheapest. Carrying my +parcel, I entered the baths, and came forth feeling much cleaner and +more presentable. + +I next treated myself to an egg for tea, with ample bread and butter and +a cup of cocoa, and then I thought it high time to seek a place in which +to sleep. In speaking of an hotel, I had in my mind a Temperance Hotel, +although I had not entered into details before Dick; but, as I walked +away from the tea-shop, exploring small streets, I passed a tailor's, +where a man was seated cross-legged on a board, busily stitching. In the +window was a card bearing the inscription, 'Bedroom to let to a single +man,' and then a happy idea occurred to me. + +My clothes were sadly in need of repair, my jacket being torn and +stained, and my knickerbockers requiring a patch on the right knee. Now, +I thought, if I engage a bed at the tailor's, he might consent to repair +my suit while I occupy it. So I opened the door and entered the warm, +moist air of the shop, with an inquiry about the bedroom, whereupon the +tailor gazed at me doubtfully a moment and shouted for 'Emma!' + +She was a pleasant-looking woman with a baby in her arms, and a second +child clinging to her skirts, and she also seemed to regard me +suspiciously. + +'I want a room for one night,' I explained, and then she glanced at her +husband. + +'Got any money to pay for it?' he demanded. + +'Rather,' I said. 'I can pay you first if you like.' + +'Well, that is what I _should_ like,' he answered. 'Show the room, +Emma.' + +She took me upstairs to a clean but poorly-furnished room, for which she +demanded a shilling, but after some conversation she agreed to supply me +with a good breakfast the next morning for one and ninepence. With this +offer I closed, and then, having given her one of my sovereigns, she +took me downstairs again to ask her husband for the change. When I had +counted this, I broached the subject of my clothes, suggesting that I +would go to bed at once if he would put them in good order by to-morrow +morning. We made a bargain for two and sixpence, and this sum I paid +also; then I turned into bed as soon as Emma had prepared the room. But +for some time I could not feel inclined to sleep, lying there thinking +of the time I had spent with Dick and Jacintha, and trying to decide +about the future. + +Before closing my eyes I came to one determination. The first thing +to-morrow morning I would walk to the railway station and inquire the +cost of a third-class ticket to London. With so much money in my pocket, +it seemed folly to walk the rest of the distance, and the sooner I +reached my destination the sooner I should begin my real career. + +My last waking thought that night was of Captain Knowlton, but in spite +of Dick's hopefulness it seemed impossible to believe that by any chance +my friend could be still living. For a few moments I exercised my +imagination, I built air castles, and pictured his reappearance on the +scene. I saw myself again at some other school, mixing once more with +the fellows on an equality: I saw myself going in due course to +Sandhurst, with Dick as my companion; I saw myself a guest at his house +during the holidays, discussing with Jacintha the experiences through +which I was at present passing. Whether or not I was awake when I +fancied these things, or my last thoughts melted into dreams, I have not +the remotest notion, but I knew nothing else until Emma knocked at my +door at eight the following morning, laying down my clothes outside, and +then all the pictures my imagination had painted appeared unreal and +extremely tantalising. + +There was a small looking-glass on the bare wooden dressing-table, and +by its aid I saw that the tailor had given me good value for my money. +Feeling quite respectable with the new stockings and shoes and the +renovated suit, I determined to improve matters further by accepting +Jacintha's hint and having my hair cut. + +During breakfast I realised that the day was Saturday, and that if I +travelled to London, it would not be practicable to take any steps +towards finding employment until Monday. As I was at present in cheap +and comfortable quarters, it seemed judicious to remain over Sunday, +especially as there would be a chance of seeing Dick and his sister once +more before I left Hazleton. + +Having made a satisfactory arrangement with Emma, I went to the nearest +hairdresser's; and afterwards bought for two and fourpence a white +flannel shirt with a collar attached. Then, turning my steps to the +railway station, found that the price of a third-class ticket to London +was five shillings and threepence, and that there were several trains +during the morning. + +When I had returned home to change my shirt, I wandered along the road +in the direction of Colebrook Park, but passed the lodge gates several +times without the satisfaction of seeing any sign of Jacintha or her +brother. Later in the day rain began to fall again, and continued until +bedtime, throughout the night, and through the whole of Sunday, so that +I only went out to church in the morning, and spent a far from +unpleasant afternoon listening to stories from Emma's husband. It +appeared that he had been a soldier, and passed through an Egyptian +campaign, to the success of which, according to his own account, he must +to no mean extent have contributed. In the evening I went again to the +church a few doors off. On Monday, seeing that the sun was shining, I +determined to make one more effort to see Dick or Jacintha before +setting out to London. The walk to Colebrook Park, where I hung about +for an hour or more, proved again entirely unavailing, however, and +turning towards the railway station, I changed another sovereign for a +ticket, and reached the platform ten minutes before the half-past eleven +train was due. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +While waiting for the train, I took the opportunity to count my money, +and finding how rapidly it had diminished, almost regretted the +determination to travel luxuriously by the railway, instead of walking +the rest of the distance to London. But, on the other hand, it appeared +highly desirable to present a respectable appearance when at last I +began to look for work in earnest. I had learned enough since leaving +Castlemore to understand that it would not do to be too particular as to +the nature of such employment, but that it could be possible to search +in vain scarcely seemed to me likely. + +There being few passengers, I entered an empty third-class compartment, +and began to eat some meat patties which I had bought on the way from +Colebrook Park. At the first stoppage a middle-aged woman entered the +compartment, taking a seat by the farther window, but at Midbrook, about +three-quarters of the way to London, we were joined by a man, who +lowered himself gently into the seat facing my own, with his face +towards the engine. + +He looked sixty years of age, or perhaps somewhat older, and had one of +the most benevolent-looking faces I had ever seen. He was clean shaven, +and he wore a tall black hat. His long frock coat was made of shiny +black cloth, with a waistcoat to match, and grey trousers. He exposed a +large amount of white shirt-front, and wore a neatly-tied narrow black +bow; indeed, he looked noticeably neat and well-brushed from top to toe. + +But, although he was so well dressed that I felt surprised at his +travelling third-class, he had the appearance of a highly respectable, +old-fashioned butler out for a holiday, rather than a gentleman. A pair +of double eye-glasses hung from a broad black ribbon, and he sat with +both hands resting on the knob of his umbrella as he gazed benevolently +into my face. + +'I wonder,' he suggested, soon after the train had restarted, 'whether +you would object to changing sides with me?' + +'I don't mind at all,' I answered. + +'A great pity,' he continued, 'to put up the window on such a lovely +warm day, but I am a great sufferer with a tickling in my throat, and +anything of a draught--thank you, my lad, thank you,' he said, as I took +the seat which he had left. + +Resting his umbrella by his side, he took a small packet from his +waistcoat pocket, and helped himself to a lozenge. 'May I offer you +one?' he said, holding out the packet in a somewhat shaky hand. 'You +won't find them at all unpleasant.' + +As I noticed the smell of aniseed, I accepted the offer at once. He +seemed to speak as if I were a man rather than a boy of fifteen, and no +doubt I felt flattered. But his voice was scarcely in accordance with +his general appearance, and it was easy to detect a note of +ill-breeding. + +(_Continued on page 138._) + +[Illustration: "'May I offer you a lozenge?'"] + +[Illustration: "He gave me back the half-crown."] + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 135._) + + +Before we reached the next station, the old gentleman made several +remarks about the condition of the crops, the beauty of the country, and +the unusual quantity of rain that had recently fallen, and when +presently the train stopped again, and the woman at the farther end of +the compartment rose from her seat, he put out a hand to open the door, +though he nodded without raising his hat when she turned to thank him +from the platform. + +'Now, I wonder,' he said, when we were on the way again, 'if you are +able to oblige me?' + +'How?' I asked. + +'I want two shillings and sixpence or sixpenny-worth of coppers for a +half-crown piece.' + +'I think I can do that,' I answered, thrusting a hand into my pocket. + +'You may think it strange that I should ask you,' he suggested. + +'Not at all.' + +'But,' he continued, 'I hadn't time to get change, and I want a paper at +the next station.' + +Bringing out a handful of silver, I gave him two shillings and a +sixpence, whereupon he handed me a half-crown in exchange. + +'It looks like a new one,' I remarked. + +'I trust it may bring you good fortune, my lad,' he answered. 'Though, +in one respect, you certainly seem to be well provided for already.' + +I suppose I smiled with satisfaction. + +'But,' he continued, 'never forget one thing. Money is the root of all +evil--the root of all evil.' + +'Do you live in London?' I asked presently. + +'Yes,' he replied, 'although it does not agree with my delicate throat. +But we cannot choose where we would wish to live.' + +'I wonder,' I said, a little hesitatingly, 'whether you could tell me +where to find a lodging?' + +'Ah,' he cried, 'you may be sure of this! If I can assist you in any way +I shall be very happy--very happy indeed. Of course it is to some extent +a question of what you are prepared to pay.' + +'I must not pay much,' I said, 'because, you see, I may not get anything +to do just at present.' + +'So you have come to London to try your fortune?' + +'Yes,' I said. 'I only want just a bedroom.' + +He was looking up at the rack over my head. + +'Your luggage is in the van?' he remarked. + +'I have no luggage,' I answered, realising that this must appear a +somewhat serious drawback. + +'May I inquire how much money you possess?' he asked. + +'A little over a pound.' + +'Ah!' he cried; 'and that is to be the beginning of a fortune, we will +hope. I have always taken a great interest in young men,' he continued. +'Now, let me see what we can do. I live with my son and my +daughter-in-law, and it is just possible she might accommodate you, if +you would like to come with me when we get out of this train.' + +'I should like it very much indeed,' I answered, congratulating myself +that I had not been backward in asking his advice. I felt no shadow of +doubt concerning his good faith. He looked so entirely respectable that +I should have gone anywhere at his bidding. So, when the train stopped +at the London terminus I walked by his side through the booking-office, +out of the station-yard, and took a seat on an omnibus without an +instant's hesitation. I noticed that he had a way of turning his head +very quickly, almost as if he were looking out for some one, and I +thought it nice of him to insist on paying my fare. We took two +omnibuses before we alighted at the corner of Baker Street and +Marylebone Road, when, holding my arm in a most friendly manner, he led +me in the direction of Lisson Grove, although at the time I had no idea +whither we were going. + +After passing through one or two quiet squares and dingy streets, we +reached one which looked more dingy still, with its rows of narrow, high +terrace houses, a number of unkempt children playing about the road, and +a fish-hawker bawling by the kerb. At one of the dingy-looking houses my +companion stopped, taking a latch-key from his waistcoat pocket; but as +soon as he opened the door a woman came out of a room, standing with her +arms akimbo in front of him, while I brought up the rear. + +She was tall, like the old man, but her face was red and puffy, while a +wisp of fair hair fell untidily over her forehead. She wore a +dirty-looking dress, with several buttons missing, their places being +supplied by pins. + +'Who's the kid?' she asked, and it was impossible to imagine that she +felt pleased at my presence. + +'A young friend I happened to meet in the train,' he answered in a +curious tone. 'This way, my lad,' he added, 'this way,' and, stepping +past the woman, he opened a door of a back room. 'Just sit down for a +moment till I come back,' he said, although there was nothing to sit +upon but a bed. + +Closing the door, he went away, and I heard him entering the front room. +I suddenly became the prey of all manner of anxious feelings. The house +itself was close and stuffy, with a curious odour as of some pungent +acid. I did not feel favourably impressed by the appearance of the +woman. But when a few minutes had passed the sound of voices reached my +ears, although it was impossible to hear the words with any +distinctness. Knowing that the old man was in all probability discussing +me with the woman who must be his daughter, I did what I may safely say +I had never attempted before in my life. Overcome with eagerness to +learn what was being said concerning myself, I stole towards the door, +opened it, and played the eavesdropper. + +Even now I could not make out half their meaning, and what I heard only +served to perplex and frighten me. + +'I tell you he is just what we want,' said the man, and the only word I +could catch in the woman's answer was--'Risk!' + +'An open-faced, honest-looking boy,' he continued. 'You have only to +look at him a second to feel you can trust him. Dress him properly, and +he is as good as a fortune.' + +If it had seemed possible to dart along the passage and out through the +front door, I should have done so, but my knees were shaking under me; +and, hearing fresh movements in the next room, I drew back and reclosed +the door. A few minutes later the man returned. + +'Come this way,' he said, and I followed him into the front room. 'My +daughter, Mrs. Loveridge,' he continued, 'does not like strangers, but I +have persuaded her to treat you as a member of the family----' + +'But if you would rather not!' I cried, looking up into her face. + +'We are not rich people,' he said, entirely ignoring my outburst, 'but +what we have we are willing to share--now, no one can say fairer than +that. You give up what money you have got in that pocket of yours, and, +when you have taken it out in board and lodging, we will see whether we +can't manage to find you some useful work to do. So hand out, my lad!' + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +Although he had looked so benevolent in the train, I had already begun +to fear this urbane old man far more than I had previously feared the +tramp at Broughton. With an uncomfortable feeling that he had got me in +his power, I could see no way of quickly getting out of it. To refuse to +hand over my money was out of the question, although, with an appearance +of kindness, he gave me back the particular half-crown which I had +changed for him in the train. + +The next few hours went by wretchedly enough. Mr. Parsons (for that I +learned was his name) did not leave me for a moment alone, and there was +nothing to divert my thoughts from the extremely disagreeable situation. +I could see no sign of any kind of book; and, indeed, the only form of +print in the house seemed to be half of an old newspaper. At about +half-past eight, Mrs. Loveridge began to prepare for something +resembling a meal by placing on the table, without a cloth, a piece of +bacon, and some bread and cheese. When it was supposed to be ready I +made the acquaintance of Mr. Loveridge, a small, pale-faced, dark-haired +man, with one leg shorter than the other. He wore a boot with a very +thick cork sole, and walked with crutches. Mr. Loveridge scarcely opened +his lips, but greeted me with a long, keen stare. Although I did not +feel the least appetite, I made a pretence of eating. + +After supper, we all sat round the table, just as it was, while the men +smoked, and talked in a jargon which it was impossible to understand. + +'Better put the kid to bed,' said Loveridge, presently; and, indeed, I +was beginning to feel exceedingly curious as to my sleeping quarters. + +Rising from her chair, Mrs. Loveridge led the way upstairs to the top of +the house, where she opened a door and said that was to be my room. + +'Can I have a candle?' I asked. + +'No, you can't,' she answered. 'And you needn't be afraid. We always +lock the front door and take out the key, and sleep with one eye open in +this house.' + +With that she went downstairs and I shut the door. The window had +neither blind nor curtains, and the room was almost dark. I could, +however, distinguish a bed on the floor, and suddenly I remembered the +last and only other time I had slept in a bedroom without a bed--at Mrs. +Riddles', at Polehampton--and sincerely wished myself back in that +cupboard, despite its nearness to Castlemore. I prayed earnestly to God +to watch over me, for I knew instinctively that I was in some great +danger. I felt that I had fallen among thieves--if these people were not +thieves, what could they be? + +I reproached myself for having been so easily deceived by Parsons, and +determined to make my escape at the earliest opportunity. The hint in +Mrs. Loveridge's parting words had not been necessary to convince me of +the uselessness of trying to get away during the night, so I lay down on +the mattress and the blankets (there were no sheets) and tried to make +up my mind how to act. I could not believe that the object of Parsons in +bringing me to his house had been merely to obtain the small sum of +money I possessed. Yet he appeared eager to detain me, and he had +persuaded his daughter of the need for such detention. It seemed to +follow that he meant to make use of me in some way--some undesirable +way, no doubt. In vain I racked my brains, before I fell asleep that +miserable night, to see through his design. But I realised that my +situation had become worse than ever, and it seemed difficult to imagine +that only yesterday I had been the companion of Jacintha and her +brother. I determined to do my utmost to disguise my suspicions, to +exercise patience and--for once--judgment, and to await a favourable +opportunity with all the courage I could muster. + +(_Continued on page 146._) + + + + +WONDERFUL CAVERNS. + +V.--THE ROCK TEMPLES OF INDIA. + + +Perhaps next to their own country, English folk know more about India +than of any other part of the world. So many of us have either been +there ourselves, or have relations who have spent long years there, that +in a way it seems rather like a home-land than a foreign country. The +great difficulty is to realise what a huge piece of the world it is, +with its population of over two hundred and seventy millions of people. +We have to remember that this population is made up of many different +races which have from time to time conquered and settled in various +parts. India is above all things an _old_ country. Its sacred books, its +temples, indeed, the way of life of the people date back to very ancient +times, and it is believed that considerable intercourse took place +between Hindustan and ancient Egypt, which may account for the likeness +between the rock tombs and temples of the two kingdoms. New races have +from time to time supplanted the former owners of the land, but except +the Mohammedan invaders of the tenth century, the conquerors seem more +or less to have fallen in with the faith and traditions of their new +subjects. + +[Illustration: East Front of the Rock Temple of Elephanta.] + +The greater part of the natives of India are worshippers of Buddha, +though many have been converted to Christianity. The teaching of Buddha +depended greatly on meditation and freedom from the distractions of the +world, and Buddhists at a very early date began to withdraw into +communities of hermits living by themselves, and, partly from +convenience, partly from a love of mysterious places, availed themselves +largely of the many natural caverns with which the rocks of India and +Thibet abound. + +At first a small cave would be enlarged, and by the aid of masonry +turned into a habitable cell for one or more of the hermits. Next a +verandah would be added, where the good men might meditate, and at the +same time enjoy light and fresh air. Later on a large cavern would be +chosen, which, with some building, and the addition of pillars to +support the roof, would be adapted to the form of a great central hall, +with small surrounding cells for each of the brethren. To our ideas it +sounds rather cold and gloomy, but those were not days of luxury, and in +Southern India, where coolness means comfort, these old cave-dwellers +might have been worse off. + +Some of these Buddhist temples are marvels of genius as well as of +industry, being richly decorated with carvings of men, women, and +animals, and with pillars, roofs and galleries cut from the solid rock. + +One of the most celebrated of these rock buildings is on a small island +a few miles from Bombay, called by the natives, Garapur, though in the +sixteenth century the Portuguese gave it the name of Elephanta, from a +huge black stone elephant which they saw on landing. The great temple is +reached by a paved causeway from a beach below, and is chiefly +underground, though both centre and wings have handsome outside +frontages. The chief hall is one hundred and thirty feet long (or about +as large as a fair-sized English church), and formerly had many columns, +though most of these have fallen. The roof of the cave in the east wing +projects seven feet beyond the line of pillars, and is about fifty feet +long. On square pedestals guarding the entrance sit stone animals, +either leopards or tigers, and inside are statues, whilst over the head +of an image of Buddha are flying cherubs. + +The view from outside, over the Bay of Bombay, is very beautiful, and +the temple is still held sacred by the Hindus, who celebrate there the +festival of Shivaratri. An important religious fair is also held before +the first new moon after the middle of February in each year. + +HELENA HEATH. + + + + +A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. + +True Tales of the Year 1805. + +III.--THE SIMPLON ROAD. + +[Illustration: The Simplon Pass.] + + +In the year 1805 Napoleon accomplished a work which for many years had +occupied his thoughts, namely, a good carriage road from Switzerland to +Italy, over the Simplon Pass, thus associating his name with that of the +great Carthaginian general, Hannibal, who had crossed that Pass with his +troops many hundred years before. + +This road of Napoleon's--still perhaps the best-graded mountain road in +Europe--was a marvel of engineering, and was considered perfect in all +respects. Every stone which marked the miles (or rather kilometres) +along the route was stamped with the imperial eagle, and each bridge +over the rushing torrents bore the words 'Napoleon fecit' ('Napoleon +made this'), so that succeeding generations should honour his name. + +How little could Napoleon have imagined that, just one hundred years +later, human moles, boring an underground passage through the mountain, +would render his grand road all but useless, and that the opening of the +Simplon Tunnel would cause his road to be neglected and forsaken. + + * * * * * + +Some conversation on this topic was passing between the travellers on a +diligence (or coach) not long ago; as the five horses gaily trotted +along the Simplon road from Brigue to the Italian side, an English +schoolboy, who had been attentively listening, broke in. + +'This grand road to be left to decay? The road Napoleon made! Why is it +to be given up? I never saw a better road in all my life!' + +'There could certainly be no better road,' answered an elderly gentleman +who sat next to the lad, 'but now that the Simplon Tunnel is almost an +accomplished fact, this road will be no longer needed. People will not +sit for eight or ten hours on a diligence when they can do the journey +in less than an hour by rail.' + +'I would choose the diligence all the same, tunnel or no tunnel!' said +the lad heartily. 'Just see how jolly it is to be trotting up-hill, with +a precipice on one side of you, a great slab of rock on the other, high +snow mountains in front, and hundreds of butterflies dancing about in +the sun. Isn't that better than being dragged through a dark tunnel, +boxed up in a stuffy train?' + +'I agree with you there, at any rate in summer,' said his neighbour, +smiling; 'but for all that the tunnel is a grand thing for this country, +and it will benefit English folk too, for it will considerably shorten +the distance between the Straits of Dover and the Adriatic, and so our +Indian mails will go through the Simplon tunnel to Brindisi. The tunnel +is twelve miles long--the longest railway tunnel in the world.' + +'I know the tunnel is very wonderful,' went on the lad, 'and I dare say +it is necessary, but why, because there happens to be a tunnel inside +the mountain, should this beautiful road be allowed to go to rack and +ruin? That beats me!' and the boy looked round as if to request an +explanation from some one. + +A Swiss gentleman--speaking, however, most excellent +English--enlightened the lad. + +'You only see the road in summer, when every yard of it has been +carefully inspected, and if necessary renewed. The winter storms and +avalanches do great damage here every year: bridges are swept away, and +the roads blocked with immense rocks brought down by the avalanches, so +that the cost of keeping this road in repair comes every year to over a +million of francs. When the tunnel is open, the Government will be able +to save this money, as the road will be no longer needed.' + +'Poor old road,' said the lad. 'Then will no one ever come up it in +future?' + +'Oh, yes,' answered the gentleman, 'it will always be used by the +peasants--they cannot afford to pay railway fares, and I hope for their +sakes the monks at the Hospice yonder will still continue their good +offices, and not forsake the home and the refuges, as there is some talk +of their doing, now that the number of travellers on the road will be so +greatly diminished.' + +'Of course,' said the boy eagerly, 'I have heard of the St. Bernard +monks, and their hospital and their dogs, and how they dig travellers +out of the snow, and so on; but what are refuges, please? I never heard +of them.' + +'They are also shelters for travellers, a sort of off-shoot from the +parent-house at the top of the Pass. It is fifteen miles from the valley +to the Hospice, and in winter-time the road is often blocked by snow, +and if it were not for these refuge houses, where food and warmth is +freely given to all comers, many a poor traveller would perish in the +snow.' + + * * * * * + +Napoleon's fame will have to live without the help of the great road +which he built to keep it alive. Though many obstacles have been met +with, including a break-down caused by an underground spring, when there +were only a few yards between the borings from each end, the tunnel is +at last practically finished, and it is hoped that in 1905, a hundred +years after Napoleon made his road, it will be open for railway traffic. + +S. C. + + + + +THE BAT AND THE BALL. + + + 'I'm quite knocked up!' exclaimed the Ball, + While mounting to the skies; + 'I know I shall have such a fall + After this dreadful rise. + I speak no ill of any one, + However they provoke, + But many things the Bat has done + Are something past a joke.' + + 'Just watch that Ball, how high he goes,' + The Bat exclaimed with glee, + 'But yet he never says he owes + His rise in life to me. + No, no, that's not his way at all; + And though I do my best, + His graceless growls at every fall + Are something past a jest.' + +JOHN LEA. + + + + +WITHOUT A HEN TO BUY STAMPS. + + +A native from the shores of Lake Nyasa, in Central Africa, lately +enlisted in the King's 2nd African Regiment, and went off to the war in +Somaliland. + +He had had some education in the Mission School in his own village, and +by-and-by sent home a very good letter describing his work, and how he +learnt signalling, and so on; and then he ended up with this pathetic +little reproach to his 'brothers' in Nyasa-land for leaving him without +a letter. + +'And what? all the people who knew us, have they finished to die' (that +is, are they all dead?), 'or are they alive and laugh? Brethren of +Mbamba, how are ye without a hen to buy stamps?' + +A fowl in Central Africa, it may be explained, costs about a penny, and +is the usual means of barter, so that stamps are bought with hens. But +let no one think an African fowl is as plump as its English sister; on +the contrary, it is such a poor, skinny thing, that three of them form +the usual breakfast for a European, who after all often gets up hungry. + +X. + + + + +MAY DAY. + + +The village children were making great preparations for May Day, and +none were more excited than Alice and May Risdon, for it would be little +May's birthday, and she had been looking forward to it for a long time. + +Early in the morning, before some people were out of their beds, the +children would start maying, carrying garlands and bunches of flowers +tied on poles, and calling at each house to sing the May greeting. Some +would give them pennies, and others only smiles, but the fun and the +frolic were what the children loved, and they would be certain to have +plenty if the sun shone and the skies were blue overhead. + +On the last day of April, Alice and May hurried home from school, for +they meant to start off directly after tea to pick the flowers they +would want. + +'I do wish Mother would give me a ribbon for my garland,' little May +said, as she ran along, trying to keep pace with her elder sister. + +'I don't think she will,' Alice replied. 'Mother says pennies are none +too plentiful, and she cannot waste them on finery for us, so I am sure +she will not buy ribbon just to decorate our flowers.' + +'Annie Mock had hers tied with a lovely bow of white satin last year,' +May said, with a sigh. 'I don't want to go maying if I have no ribbon +for my flowers.' + +May was just a little bit spoilt because she was much younger than +Alice, and her elder sister was so devoted to her that she always +thought of her first, and gave way to her in everything. + +'We will find the very prettiest flowers we can, dear, and then nobody +will miss the ribbon.' + +'Do coax Mother to buy me a bit,' May begged, but Alice knew that this +would be quite useless. + +How she wished, though, that she could satisfy her little sister! If +only she tried hard enough, perhaps she would be able to think of some +plan. + +However, when they reached home she was afraid that May might be +disappointed, not only of her ribbon, but of her flowers and garland as +well, for she found Mrs. Stevens, the Squire's wife, had called and +asked Mrs. Risdon to send Alice to the Lodge to help with some weeding. + +'Oh, Mother, need I go? I must get the flowers for the maying,' Alice +said. + +'Nonsense, my dear; I cannot disoblige Mrs. Stevens when she is always +so kind to us.' + +So Alice had to go to the Park Lodge, leaving May in tears, because she +knew she could not get nearly as many flowers without her sister to help +her. + +'Never mind, dear! Pick some primroses and ferns, and I will get up +early to-morrow to gather may-blossom and make the garland,' Alice +promised, as she kissed her good-bye. + +It was growing dark when the weeding was finished, but Mrs. Stevens was +very much pleased with the neat look of the borders. + +'You have been a good, industrious girl,' she said to Alice. 'Now you +must come in and have some cake and milk, and I have a few little scraps +of finery your mother may like for her patchwork.' + +She brought a bundle of pieces of bright-coloured silk, and among them +Alice saw, with delight, a length of lovely green ribbon. + +Her eyes shone with excitement as she thanked Mrs. Stevens. + +'Do you think, ma'am, we might use that beautiful ribbon for our +garland? It would still do for Mother's patchwork if we ironed it +afterwards.' + +Then Mrs. Stevens had to hear all the story of May's wish and her +sister's fears for her disappointment. She gave Alice leave to go +through their orchard on her way home, and to pick as many of the wild +jonquils--'White Sundays,' the children called them--as she liked. So +Alice was a happy girl, and, although she saw by the tears on little +May's cheeks that the child had cried herself to sleep, she knew how +glad her waking would be. + +Alice was awake at daylight to weave the garland and arrange the bunch +of flowers on the pole. When all her preparations were finished, she +roused May and told her that it was May Day and she had a delightful +surprise for her. She brushed the little girl's golden hair till it +shone, and put on her best white frock, and then, looking from the +window, saw some other children coming to meet them. + +'Run off, dear,' she said; 'I will follow with your garland.' + +She just had time to slip on a clean pinafore, and then hurried after +her down the hill. + +'Oh, how lovely!' cried May, when she saw the green ribbon; and she was +so excited she could hardly stand still while she held the garland and +Alice tied it on. + +The other children were full of admiration, and May's happy little face, +with the hug she gave her kind sister, quite repaid Alice for her hard +work the evening before, and for getting up with the sun to prepare for +a joyful maying. + +M. H. + +[Illustration: "She could hardly stand still while Alice tied the ribbon +on."] + +[Illustration: "The empty branch bore a label."] + + + + +NOT THE SAME THING. + + +At a college in Cambridge there was once a master who was extremely fond +of figs. He watched his fig-tree very closely and tenderly, for he held +that in the existence of a fig there was but one fit and proper moment +at which the ripe fruit should be eaten. To eat a fig either before or +after that supreme moment was, said the master, a neglect of an +opportunity and a sad mistake. + +One year, for some reason, the tree produced only one good fig; and one +day the master's examination of this solitary fruit led him to the +conclusion that it would be at its best on the day following. Then he +did an exceedingly foolish thing--considering that there were +undergraduates about! He wrapped his precious fig in a piece of silver +paper and labelled it 'The Master's Fig!' + +At what he judged the exactly right moment of the next day the master +went to the tree, anticipating a brief but exquisite pleasure. Alas! the +fruit had vanished, and the empty branch bore a label with these words; +'A Fig for the Master!' + +H. J. H. + + + + +INVITATIONS. + + + The daffodils are nodding; + There's a swaying of the trees; + The playroom window rattles + To the fragrant summer breeze. + There is sunshine in the garden, + And the bees are all a-hum. + Oh, hark, the invitation: + 'You must come, come, come!' + + The butterfly is glancing + On his wings of golden hue; + Ah! see where now he loiters + O'er that bed of pansies blue; + A moment since he hovered + At this very window-pane, + To see if we were coming + To the garden and the lane. + + Hats! hats! for those who want them; + Boots! boots!--oh, lace them, _do_! + Fling open doors and windows, + To let the sunshine through! + When birds and bees and blossoms + Invite us out to play, + Oh, who could well refuse them + Upon so bright a day? + +JOHN LEA. + + + + +JAPANESE PLUMS. + + +Plums, especially if pickled, are a favourite ration of the Japanese +soldiers. These plums are said to be such marvellous thirst-quenchers +that if you have once tasted them the mere recalling of their name is +sufficient to allay the severest thirst. + +There is a saying in the Japanese army that when a regiment shows signs +of being overcome from want of water, the officer in command has only to +say, 'Two miles from here, my men, there is a forest of plum-trees.' + +At once, says a Japanese writer, the men's mouths begin to water, and +the danger is past. + +X. + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 139._) + + +I fell asleep at last, and, on opening my eyes the next morning, saw the +sunlight shining into the squalid room. Evidently it had been empty on +my arrival at the house, and Mrs. Loveridge had flung these things on +the floor, and placed a basin and what looked like a duster on a +broken-backed chair, and considered the room furnished. Not aware of the +time, but believing it to be quite early, I got up and said my prayers +and began my toilet, with the intention of going downstairs to explore +the house. Having lain down in my clothes, I now washed as well as I +could without soap, opened my door, went out to the landing, and +listened. All that I could hear was snoring; so, taking courage, I tried +to walk downstairs without noise--a task in which I only partially +succeeded. + +Passing the first floor, I went on to the rooms which I had entered +yesterday, and then to the front door. I saw that it was locked, and +that the key, as Mrs. Loveridge had hinted, had been taken away. At the +back of the passage was a flight of stairs, and, in the wild hope of +finding some kind of back door, I went down. + +In this basement were two rooms, that in front being an ordinary kind of +kitchen--the door of the back room being locked. I was in the act of +stooping to look through the keyhole, when I felt a hand on my collar. + +'Now, get away from that,' cried Mrs. Loveridge, flinging me heavily +against the wall. 'None of your prying down here, or it'll be the worse +for you.' + +I returned upstairs without speaking, and there I hung about the room, +where the supper things still remained on the table, until I smelt an +odour of frying bacon. Both the men came to breakfast, and nobody spoke +during the meal. When it ended, Mr. Loveridge left the room, and I heard +him downstairs, opening and shutting the door of the room where I had +been caught trying to peep. I strained my ears for any fresh sound, +fancying that some one must be blowing a pair of bellows, such as may be +seen in any blacksmith's shop, until my attention was suddenly diverted. + +'I never expect gratitude,' said Mr. Parsons, 'so I am not disappointed +if I don't get it. There are private goings on in every house, come to +that, and visitors have got to behave themselves.' + +'Of course,' I answered, remembering the caution I had administered to +myself last night. + +'People tell me I am what you may call a good-natured man,' he +continued. I noticed how thin his lips had become, and what an +unpleasant expression had come into his eyes. 'But if you rouse me,' he +exclaimed, 'I'm a Tartar--a Tartar I am! So you had better be careful.' + +I was rapidly growing convinced that there was a mystery connected with +the house, and that the clue was to be found downstairs in what ought +to have been the back kitchen. But I had no time to think of this at +present, because Mr. Parsons said he intended to take me out. He +accompanied me into the passage, where he carefully brushed his tall hat +with his sleeve, and opened the street door, whilst I determined to lose +no opportunity of making my escape before we returned. The next minute +we were walking away from the house, and, to my surprise, Mr. Parsons +put his hand through my arm, holding it with what seemed to be a grip of +iron. + +'Where are we going?' I asked, as we left the street. + +'I want to make a deal with a friend of mine,' was the answer. +'Appearances are very important in this world, my lad. I like to see a +boy nicely dressed. I'm always very particular myself what I wear.' + +'My clothes are all right,' I muttered. + +'Ah, you think so, do you? Now, I'm very fond of a short black jacket +and a tall hat--a tall hat is most important.' + +'You mean Etons?' I suggested. + +'You will see what I mean before you're much older,' he answered, still +keeping his grip of my arm. + +In a wider street in the neighbourhood of Edgware Road we stopped before +a good-sized second-hand clothes-shop, which was kept by a man, who +appeared to be a friend of Parsons. Telling me to enter first, he stood +blocking the doorway while he carried on a whispered conversation with +the shopkeeper. + +'Take off your jacket,' he said, a few minutes later, as the shopman +began to show some folded suits of clothes. + +Although I did not in the least like the notion of exchanging my own +clothes, shabby as they were, for a suit which had already been worn by +somebody else, it was a part of my plan to offer no unnecessary +objection. Besides, it must be confessed that, in his quiet way, Mr. +Parsons had succeeded in filling me with something very like terror. In +a manner, he seemed like a volcano, looking perfectly harmless, and even +pleasant, but yet capable of a terribly dangerous eruption. + +The shopman brought out an armful of clothes, and the second jacket I +tried was only a trifle too small. In less than a quarter of an hour I +had taken off my own suit and put on in its place an ordinary suit of +Etons, such as we all wore on Sundays at Castlemore. Although obviously +far from new, it was not in very bad condition; but the hat, which had a +soiled lining, required to be filled in with paper to prevent it from +coming down over my eyes. Mr. Parsons sold my old suit (it could +scarcely have fetched a very high price), and paid the difference to the +shopman, who, I observed, examined the money, coin by coin, with close +attention. + +'Now,' said Parsons, as we walked in the direction of Edgware Road, 'you +look a little more genteel.' + +We entered a cheap hosier's shop next, and there he bought me a white +shirt, two wide Eton collars, and a dark tie, all of which I carried +home in a brown-paper parcel. + +So far the morning had been passed harmlessly, if unpleasantly, for I +continued to resent the second-hand suit, and especially the hat, and +now we walked direct back to the house. After a meal, of which the less +said the better, Mr. Parsons took me into his own bedroom, telling me to +change my shirt and look sharp about it. When I had put on the white +shirt, a wide collar, and the new necktie, I returned to the front room, +but was sent into the passage to fetch the tall hat. + +In the front room I found Mr. and Mrs. Loveridge, as well as a +rough-looking man whom I had not seen before. Mr. Parsons placed his +hand on my shoulders, and turned me round and round as if he were proud +to show the change he had affected in my appearance. + +'Won't he do beautiful?' he cried, excitedly. 'Did ever you set eyes on +a nicer, genteeler-looking lad? Don't he take the cake?' + +They all began to laugh, evidently with approval, while I bit my lips +and tried to look as if I also liked it, although I think it was one of +the worst minutes of my life. + +'Well,' said Loveridge, 'we shall see what we get for our money.' + +Mrs. Loveridge muttered something which I could not understand, and Mr. +Parsons shook his head with a significant frown. + +'Trust me for that,' he answered. 'Come along, Jacky! Handsome is that +handsome does, you know.' + +A few minutes later we were again out in the street, and while any +casual passer-by would have imagined that I was accompanied by an +affectionate old gentleman who held my arm, I knew very well what was +his real motive. It was a hot afternoon, and presently we took an +omnibus to Oxford Circus, where we at once turned down a side street. + +'I dare say you are thirsty, my lad,' he exclaimed, suddenly. 'Now, two +or three doors from here there's a nice shop where they sell delicious +ginger-beer--a penny the bottle. Go and get yourself a bottle, Jacky.' + +'I--I don't want any,' I answered, as he took a coin from his pocket. + +'Jacky,' he said, looking full into my face, 'you will find it always +best to do as you're told. Go and get yourself a bottle of ginger-beer, +my lad.' + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +Taking the two-shilling-piece, I walked on and entered the small shop, +where a clean-looking woman stood behind the counter. Opening a bottle +of ginger-beer, she poured the contents into a glass, counting out the +change for the florin while I drank. In the meantime Mr. Parsons was +waiting directly outside the door, and the moment I reached his side he +again gripped my arm. + +'Change!' he muttered, whereupon I put the one and elevenpence into his +shaky hand. + +When we had walked a little farther, he stopped at another shop--a +tobacconist's this time. + +'Just go in there and buy me a box of wax lights,' he said, giving me +half-a-crown. + +Accordingly I entered the shop, where a young man was smoking a +cigarette just within the door. + +'A box of wax lights,' I cried, placing the money on the counter. Having +given what I asked for, the man began to examine the coin. He rang it +on the counter, he tried it with his teeth, and then he looked curiously +into my face. + +[Illustration: "'Take off your jacket,' Mr. Parsons said."] + +'Haven't you got any smaller change?' he asked. + +'No,' I answered, and, with another curious glance, he examined the +half-crown again, and finally gave me the change. + +(_Continued on page 158._) + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +IV.--HOW INSECTS SEE. + + +Of the five senses, sight is to mankind undoubtedly the most precious. +The changes of the seasons, the beauty of scenery, sunset and sunrise, +the wonders of nature, and the triumphs of art are only to be +appreciated through the eyes, which have aptly been described as the +'windows of the soul.' Yet there are many who pass through life without +even realising what we may call the 'gilding' of the world--the delights +of colour. Quite a large number of people have no colour-sense, and are +unable to tell red, for instance, from green. The writer knows an +eminent botanist who is unable to tell the colours of the flowers he so +loves to study! + +[Illustration: Fig. 1.--Head of Insect with eyes at side (greatly +magnified).] + +How is it with the little people of the insect world in this matter? +Their eyes are constructed on an entirely different plan from ours. What +sort of a world is it that they look on? Taken as a whole, it would seem +that the insect inhabitants of our world see but very little of it; they +perceive it rather through the sense of smell. Only a very few insects, +such as dragon-flies, for example, see well, and even their length of +sight probably does not exceed six feet or so. They are a near-sighted +race. Moreover, they see moving objects more easily than stationary +ones. + +[Illustration: Fig. 3.--Head of Drone Bee (greatly magnified). 'Ocelli' +at O.] + +That many recognise colours there can be no doubt, and many show +preferences for certain colours. Bees show a great liking for blue, and +ants for violet. White butterflies appear to prefer white flowers, and +yellow butterflies yellow flowers. Orange and yellow are also attractive +to bees, whilst other colours seem to have no charms for them. + +[Illustration: Fig. 2.--Head of Worker Bee (greatly magnified).] + +[Illustration: Fig. 4.--Eye of Bibio Fly. 'Ocelli' at O (greatly +magnified).] + +There is no doubt that some insects, however, see much more of the world +than others, for the eyes of the insects and their near relations, the +spiders and scorpions, are of two different kinds, and both kinds differ +greatly from ours in structure. Let us take the simple eye found in the +spider or scorpion, for an example, and look at it. If you catch a +spider, and carefully examine the front of his head, you will notice a +number of bead-like bodies of different sizes, arranged sometimes in the +form of a circle, sometimes on a prominent swelling or 'tubercle,' or it +may be in some other fashion, according to the kind of spider. These are +the eyes. A section cut through one of these eyes and placed under the +microscope would show that the surface of the eye was formed by a +transparent body like a lens, and that behind this lay a complicated +arrangement of rods passing gradually into the nerves of sight. Only +_ocelli_, as these eyes are called, are found in the spider and his +kind. But in true insects, like the dragon-fly, or the butterfly, we +meet with eyes of another kind, in addition to ocelli. These are known +as compound eyes. Where compound eyes are found, the ocelli never exceed +three in number, and are arranged in the form of a triangle, and placed +in the middle of the head (figs. 2, 3, and 4). + +The compound eyes vary greatly in their size. In some insects they are +placed one in each side of the head (fig. 1); in others, as in the drone +bee, they meet one another at the top of the head (fig. 3, spot marked +O) and extend downwards to the mouth. In others, yet again, they may +attain a huge size, and occupy even the whole front of the head, +crowding over the ocelli to form a little group at the top, as in the +head of a species of fly known as the Bibio (fig. 4). + +The compound eye is so delicate and wonderful, that great knowledge of +anatomy or the science of optics is necessary before it can be really +appreciated. Briefly, it is made up of a cluster of simple eyes, in each +of which there are several parts. Beginning at the surface we have what +is known as the facet, or cornea, which roughly corresponds to the +surface of our own eyes. Next we meet with a clear, glassy rod, and this +passes downwards into the nerve of sight. Around these rods is a sheath +of black colouring matter, so that each eye is cut off from its +neighbour. Thus the whole eye may be likened roughly to a bundle of +telescopes. + +Of what use, it may be asked, are the three little eyes in the middle of +the head of insects which have these wonderfully complex eyes? Well, the +large compound eyes are used to watch the movements of other animals; +thus they are enabled to escape their enemies. Many of you doubtless +have tried to catch butterflies, and if so you will know how suddenly +and quickly they avoid the master-stroke that is to land them in the +net. But the use of the three little eyes seems to be to enable their +possessor to see in the dark. By their means the bee (figs. 2 and 3) can +distinguish objects even in the darkest parts of the hive; so too the +ant can find his way about the galleries of his underground home. +Night-flying moths all have these little eyes, whilst in butterflies, +which fly in the daytime, they are wanting. + +W. P. PYCRAFT, A.L.S., F.Z.S. + + + + +TWO WAYS OF READING A SENTENCE. + + +People in high stations of life often receive from authors presents of +their works, and are expected to say something flattering about them in +return. They do not like to hurt the author's feelings if the book is +worthless, and so Benjamin Disraeli, when Prime Minister, used to answer +those who approached him in this way: 'I have received your book, and +shall _lose no time in reading it_.' This sentence, as you can see, is +capable of being read in two ways, but the sender of the book was, of +course, intended to understand the more flattering reading. It was a +kind of deception, and was not very honest, but it was done out of +kindness. + +A musical composer found another way of answering the many applicants +for his opinion: 'I have received your music,' he would write, '_and +much like it_.' + +S. CLARENDON. + + + + +RUDEL AND LISBETH. + +By the Author of 'The Silver Flagon,' 'The Red Rose Knights,' &c. + + +Rudel and Lisbeth were a little girl and boy who lived many years ago in +a beautiful gabled farmhouse on the edge of a forest in Germany. The +forest was far from any town, and the children were dressed in the +quaint and pretty costumes of German peasants at that time. Lisbeth +looked like a tiny copy of her old grandmother, except that her own hair +hung down in two long, tight flaxen plaits, while her grandmother's was +completely hidden under a high cap. + +The forest, which was many miles wide, lay on one side of the farmhouse; +on the other it was open country, and from the top of a low hill in the +neighbourhood you could see villages and churches for miles round. This +hill was a favourite playground of the children, for it was full of +caves and hiding-places; it was in fact the great 'show-place' of the +neighbourhood, but the children only thought how delightful it was to +play houses in. + +Rudel and Lisbeth were very strictly brought up, and were punished for +the slightest fault. They seldom spoke to their grandparents unless +spoken to, and were never talked to about anything that was going on. +Like other children, however, they had a good deal of curiosity about +their elders, and it puzzled Rudel very much one day when he saw that as +his grandmother went about her household work, the tears were running +down her face. + +About this time Rudel stopped playing at houses, and took to playing at +soldiers. The new game absorbed him so much that he could think of +nothing else. The neighbours also began to talk of soldiers, and at last +the children came to know that there was a war going on in Germany, and +that certain States speaking the same language were fighting with one +another. This was very sad, but the children thought it very exciting +and delightful. + +One night Rudel said to Lisbeth, 'We must get up early to-morrow and go +and storm the hill. I am going to play at having a siege. I heard +grandfather say to-morrow is to be a holiday.' + +Lisbeth joyfully agreed, and they went to bed full of plans for the +siege. + +In the middle of the night, as it seemed to Rudel, he woke and heard a +loud noise in the living-room below. Two men were talking in loud, angry +tones, and a woman was sobbing. Presently the crying ceased, and the two +men seemed to leave the room. Rudel sprang up and looked out of his tiny +window--yes! there were his grandfather and another man going towards +the forest. But after taking a few steps they paused, spoke together +for a little while, and then turned in the opposite direction. + +'They are going to our hill,' thought Rudel, as he went back to bed. +Hours afterward, as it seemed to him, a light flashed into his eyes, and +he awoke again. His grandmother was standing over him with a candle. She +was crying, and as she wept she bent down and kissed Rudel, which +frightened him very much. + +'Oh, Rudel,' said Grandmother, sobbing, 'will you always be a good boy? +Promise me you will.' + +Rudel promised, and, after kissing him again, Grandmother went away. +Rudel wondered if she was going to see Lisbeth, and make her also +promise to be a good girl. Rudel fully meant to keep his promise, but he +was a forgetful little boy, and he broke it the very next day. + +'Children,' said Grandfather, just as he and Grandmother were setting +off on business, 'you are not to go to the hill to-day, nor anywhere +near it--keep to the orchard and garden.' + +And, without even stopping to make them promise, he went away, while +Rudel stamped his foot in a rage, and Lisbeth began to cry. + +'If Grandfather thinks,' said Rudel, after they had been wandering about +for some time, 'that I am never to be a man, and do as I like--oh, +Lisbeth, we didn't promise Grandfather--if we had promised it would be +wrong to go; but we didn't! Let us go to the hill--no one will see us.' + +Lisbeth stood out against her brother for a little while, but she was so +accustomed to follow his lead in everything that she gave in at last, +and the children went to the hill. + +They played at the foot for some little time, and then mounted to the +top, Rudel busy explaining the plan of his siege; but on reaching the +top and looking round they uttered cries of amazement on seeing a party +of soldiers--an army they thought it--riding rapidly towards the hill +and surrounding it on every side. Rudel was fascinated by the horses and +trappings, but Lisbeth was frightened and began to cry. + +'Let's go and hide,' she said. + +'You may,' said Rudel, 'but I shall go and speak to the soldiers, and +ask them what they want. And mind, Lisbeth, don't come out or speak, but +stay till they are gone.' + +The children ran down the hill to a cave they knew of, which could +hardly be found by any one who did not know where to look, and Lisbeth +went in. But her terror may be imagined when she found it already +occupied. A fierce-looking man rose up at her entrance, seized her, and +pressed his hand over her mouth. + +'Silence,' he whispered into her ear, 'or it will be the worse for you.' + +Meantime, Rudel went to face the soldiers. + +'Hallo!' cried a rough-looking soldier, who seemed in authority, 'is +this the spy and deserter we are seeking?--truly a dangerous ruffian!' + +The other men laughed loudly, and pressed round Rudel, who began to be +frightened. + +'Where's your father, boy?' asked the leader. + +'He has gone away,' answered Rudel. + +'You know where he is. I remember your face now; aren't you the grandson +of old Peter Klinger, who holds yonder farm? Well, we are looking for +his son, Rudolf Klinger, whose children we know live with the +grandparents. We believe that he came here last night, and is hiding +somewhere in the neighbourhood. Tell us where he is, and you shall have +as many sugarplums as you can eat.' + +'You are not looking for my father,' said Rudel boldly; 'he would not be +a spy and deserter, and if he were I should not betray him.' + +'We shall soon see that. If you don't tell us where he is you shall be +shot as a deserter in his place. We have no time to waste.' + +The soldiers laughed. They were accustomed to their leader's cruel +jokes, but Rudel was not. He turned pale, and began to tremble a little. + +'Now, then, tell us,' said the leader. + +'You may kill me,' said Rudel, 'but I will not tell.' + +Full well did Rudel guess now the cause of his grandmother's tears last +night, and who the visitor had been. + +'Fall in, men,' commanded the leader, winking at the next in command; +'form a shooting party.' + +Soldiers were rough and cruel in those times, especially in time of war, +and poor Rudel fully believed he was going to be shot. He watched the +preparations with fascinated eyes, and allowed himself to be placed in +position against a low stone wall. Then he burst into tears. + +'Once more--will you tell?' + +Rudel did not answer, but shut his eyes and began rapidly to repeat the +Lord's Prayer. The leader glanced round with a grim smile, and the men +clicked the locks of their muskets. Then fear overcame the poor little +fellow, and he sank down in a heap on the ground. + +Meanwhile, in the cave, which was quite close, Lisbeth had heard all. +She began to struggle, and uttered a stifled scream. The man released +her, and, to her surprise, gently touched her flaxen hair. + +'Fear nothing, little one,' he said, and taking her hand, went with her +out of the cave, and walked straight up to the soldiers. + +'I may be a spy and a deserter,' he said loudly to the leader, 'but I am +not a brute as you are.' And he struck the officer a violent blow in the +face. + +'Take that!' he said, 'and shoot me as soon as you like. I am worth +something when I can call that brave boy my son.' + +The soldiers surrounded and seized him, and when Rudel came to his +senses he found them already gone, and his grandfather lifting him into +his arms and preparing to carry him home. + +The next morning both children were punished for disobedience. Rudel +thought this very cruel, and years afterwards, when for the first time +he dared to ask about his father, he asked his grandfather why he had +done so. + +'To make you forget all you had gone through,' answered the old man, +smiling, 'and only remember the beating. Besides, you had disobeyed me!' + +Rudel never saw his father again, for when the deserter had undergone a +long imprisonment for his offence, and was free again, he was ordered to +leave the country for ever; and Rudel and Lisbeth stayed on with their +grandparents. + +[Illustration: "'I am worth something when I can call that brave boy my +son.'"] + +[Illustration: "A horseman galloped to the spot in the hope of finding +them still alive."] + + + + +CRUISERS IN THE CLOUDS. + +IV.--THE FIRST CATASTROPHE. + + +The Countess of Villeroy was a very old French lady who was strongly +inclined to think that people were wrong in supposing they could cruise +among the clouds in balloons. But when she saw Professor Charles and his +companion rise into the blue sky, she was ready to agree with any one +who said that men had conquered the upper air. Alas! only a few months +later an event occurred which would have made her change her opinion. + +Day by day the ballooning fever grew more intense, and when the King of +Sweden visited Paris of course he had to be entertained with a grand +display of the new discovery. Pilatre de Rozier, a young physician who +had, like Professor Charles, devoted much attention to the subject, +ascended in a balloon bearing the French arms, with the flag of Queen +Marie Antoinette floating from the car. The voyage was quite successful. +Scarcely had the fanfare of trumpets which greeted its start died away +when the aeronauts landed on the estate of the Prince of Conde, who +welcomed them with more heartiness than his ancestors were wont to +bestow on visitors from the King. Mingling with the buzz of delight +which accompanied these experiments, was an ever-growing rumour that +certain Englishmen had made up their minds to cross the Channel in a +balloon. It would never do to let them be first in performing such a +feat, so Pilatre de Rozier lost no time in asking the French Court for +forty thousand francs, to build a special balloon which would take him +across the English Channel. 'It is a matter of national honour,' said a +writer of the time; and as most people agreed with him, De Rozier's +request was granted. + +The balloon was different from any other yet made, being a combination +of both the systems. The lower section was a large bag to be filled with +hot air, after Montgolfier's plan, and round which the platform for the +travellers was arranged. The upper part was a huge gas balloon. 'My idea +is,' said De Rozier, 'that by this invention much gas will be saved, for +when I wish to descend I shall simply cool the hot air in the +Montgolfier instead of letting out the gas. Then, to rise again it would +only be necessary to rekindle the fire. This also renders ballast +unnecessary.' + +It was very ingenious, but most people will agree with Professor Charles +that 'it was like lighting a fire under a barrel of gunpowder.' + +However, the balloon was built, and measured, when complete, seventy-two +feet from platform to summit. The race for the honour of crossing the +narrow sea had begun, and Pilatre took his giant to Boulogne. But here +on the very shore he was doomed to stay, for the winter winds blew +shrill and strong from the west. Day after day he waited for more +favourable weather, and day after day he heard with still greater +concern that an Englishman named Blanchard was already at Dover, waiting +only for the winds to subside a little before he set out in his balloon. +Pilatre's anxiety was increased every time he thought of the forty +thousand francs he had begged from the Government, and, hoping that +report had been exaggerated, he took ship to Dover to see if Mr. +Blanchard was really as well prepared as people said. There had been no +exaggeration, and he returned to Boulogne more disturbed than ever. + +With the assistance of a young doctor, named Romain, he made a number of +small balloons, and sent them into the air at frequent intervals to see +if they would rise into some current which would waft them to England, +and show a way that he might follow. But they all fell back on the +French coast, and the hopes of success grew less and less. At last the +rough weather died away and a lighter wind blew from the west. Letters +came from Paris urging him to ascend, and reminding him of the money +paid for the experiment. Contrary winds were not considered by the +officials of Paris, and poor Pilatre could only repeat that it was +impossible to sail against them. With eager eyes he watched the sea in +the direction of Dover, and one day (it was the 7th of December) he saw +Blanchard's balloon come sailing majestically over the grey waters, and +knew that the strange race was lost. France would not have the honour of +having first crossed the Channel through the air. But Pilatre de Rozier, +being a brave man, hastened to Calais, and was among the first to +congratulate his successful rival. He would now have been willing to +abandon his project, but such a thing was not to be permitted. He was +told that it was easier to sail from England to France, since the latter +had a much longer coast-line, whereas it would be a great feat for him +to accomplish the reverse journey. It was vain to point out that his +balloon had become weather-worn in the long waiting, and how his +materials had suffered from the attacks of rats. The forty thousand +francs must not be spent for nothing; so Pilatre patched his taffeta as +best he could, and with the heroic assistance of his friend, Romain, had +things fairly in order by June 13th, though he was so uncertain of +success that he declined to endanger the life of a gentleman who asked +to be allowed to accompany him. + +On the morning of June 15th, the loud report of a cannon told the +inhabitants of Boulogne that he intended to start. At seven o'clock he +and Romain stepped into the gallery and the balloon was released. With +majestic slowness they rose into the air and sailed out over the sea; +but a moment later the wind, that had so long been his enemy, drove them +back. The crowd watched with great anxiety. Twenty-seven minutes after +starting, the balloon, at a height of one thousand seven hundred feet, +was still only a short distance away. Then, to the horror of the +spectators, Pilatre de Rozier was seen to make a gesture of alarm, and +the next moment a blue flame leapt from the summit of the balloon. With +terrible speed the unfortunate aeronauts were dashed to the earth. A +horseman, who tells the terrible story, galloped to the spot in the +hope of finding them still alive. Pilatre de Rozier lay in the gallery +quite dead, with scarcely a bone in his body unbroken, and the young +Romain lived only to mutter an incoherent word or two. + +In memory of the sad event an obelisk was erected on the place where +they fell, and in the cemetery at Wimille, their place of burial is +marked by the stone carving of a flaming balloon. + +JOHN LEA. + + + + +NO HURRY. + + +Here is a story which a missionary lately told his congregation. + +Some evil spirits were consulting together as to the best way to lead +men astray. + +One said, 'Let us go and tell them there is no God.' + +Another said, 'Let us tell them there is no Heaven.' + +But the third said, 'Let us go and tell them there is no hurry!' + +'No hurry' often leads to more harm than many deliberate wrong acts. + +X. + + + + +THE LITTLE BUSH-BOY. + + +A fine leopard had just been killed by an English hunter in South +Africa. The beautiful skin was speedily stripped off its back and +reserved for home use. While this operation was going on the native +beaters gathered eagerly round, assuring their master that the lair of +the dead leopard was well known, and that its mate was there with +probably a couple of young cubs; would he not like to have them? Not a +doubt about it! the master would like to secure the little ones alive; +but how? One leopard had doubtless been destroyed, but the other parent +was still alive and would have to be dealt with; while to rob a mother +leopard of her young was an act from which even the boldest of English +sportsmen might well shrink. + +But the natives knew what they were about, and while they had not the +least intention of exposing themselves to danger, their plans were laid +so as to secure the cubs, and, perhaps, themselves to share in the +profits of the work. Therefore they gladly led the way to the rocky +kloof, thickly studded with clumps of brush-wood, where the leopard's +den, a dark cave, was situated, the entrance to it being covered with +fine white sand. Upon inspecting this sand the foot-marks showed that +the female leopard had lately gone forth, perhaps to fetch food for her +little ones or to look for her mate. The cubs were therefore alone; but +how could they be secured, as the mother leopard might return at any +moment, while the cave was a long and low one, with three different +entrances, each separated from the other? + +How were the little cubs to be secured? We shall presently see. The +native beaters had added to their party a small bush-boy, who though +twelve years of age was scarcely four feet high. He was a very ugly +little fellow, but affectionate towards those who treated him kindly. +Like all his race, he well knew the habits of the wild animals of the +country, and he had a wonderful power of tracking their footsteps. The +beaters proposed that this little fellow should crawl into the den, and +bring the cubs to the outer air. But eager as the Englishman was to +secure the leopards, he called a halt when he understood the frightful +danger to which the boy was to be exposed. But the little bush-boy was +quite undaunted; he laughed in the sportsman's face, apparently looking +forward to the task with as much pleasure as an English boy would feel +at the prospect of catching a couple of young rabbits. They went to work +silently but quickly, as no time was to be lost. The Englishman with his +rifle kept watch at the principal entrance to stop the mother leopard, +if she should return, while the natives watched the other two approaches +to the cavern. + +All being now ready, the boy disappeared into the cave. It was an +anxious moment: the sun was sinking, and the Englishman, somewhat +nervous at his novel position, could not help feeling uneasy about the +poor little fellow, who would certainly have to fight for his life +should the female leopard by any chance contrive to reach her family. +Suddenly, though he heard no noise whatever, he saw, not twenty yards +away from him on the ridge of the rocky glen, the head and shoulders of +the mother leopard with a kid in her mouth. + +The fierce creature had paused, wondering who was the intruder who had +dared to place himself at the very door of her home. This pause of the +leopard gave the hunter time to recover his coolness and to take good +and sure aim; her head and shoulders being just over the rocky ridge +were clearly marked out upon the sky-line. Slowly raising his rifle +then, he fired, the leopard leaping into the air, while with the report +of the weapon came the natives who had been stationed at the other +entrances of the cave, all eager to see what had happened, and quite +forgetting the little bush-boy, who must have heard the report of the +weapon, too, and been in some anxiety as to the result. On the ground +lay the body of the dead kid, but the leopard herself, only wounded, had +disappeared, having got into the thick bush that clothed the sides of +the kloof. + +Feeling thankful that the fierce creature had not made a dash for her +den, the Englishman hastily called to the boy, desiring him to come out +immediately, whether successful or not in his search. This was +absolutely necessary, as in the long run the wounded animal would +certainly return to the cave, though in the first moment of alarm she +had escaped in another direction. + +But there was no reply from the boy. 'Come along, boy; come along; never +mind the cubs,' repeated the Englishman, peering into the dark mouth of +the cave, and desperately anxious to have done with this unpleasant +adventure. + +'All right, master,' was at length heard in hollow tones, yet with a +dash of triumph in them; 'all right, I have got the young ones;' and in +a few minutes first one brown leg appeared, then a second, for the +brave little fellow had to travel backwards, the hole being too narrow +and winding to admit of turning. At length he appeared, gasping for +breath, but full of delight, and carrying two little growling and +spitting cubs. Hastily securing the prey and reloading his rifle, the +Englishman and his attendants made for home as fast as they could. They +reached the camp in safety, while the female leopard was found dead the +next day some distance up the kloof. + +[Illustration: "The little bush-boy appeared, carrying two growling +cubs."] + +The little bush-boy was well rewarded for his pluck, and taken into the +Englishman's service; but the reward he seemed to appreciate most was a +hearty meal off the dead kid, for good food did not often come in his +way. + +B. M. + +[Illustration: "'I don't know what to do!'"] + + + + +DISCONTENT BRINGS DULNESS. + + + As Johnny by the window stood + And watched the cloudy sky, + He seemed in discontented mood + And soon was heard to sigh: + 'I don't know what to do to-day; + There seems no fun at all; + At cricket there's no chance to play, + For I have lost the ball. + + 'And tops are seldom spun in May, + And if I had a kite + There's not a breath of air to-day + To help it in its flight.' + With peevish frown he left the room + And roamed the garden through, + And murmured in a tone of gloom: + 'I don't know what to do.' + + And thus all day he idly went + From dreary place to place, + The saddest gloom of discontent + For ever on his face; + And when the stars began to peep, + And night its shadows threw, + He murmured in his restless sleep: + 'I don't know what to do.' + +J. L. + + + + +NATURE'S NOBLEMEN. + + +It was said of a man who rose to a high position in the State through +his conscientiousness and high principles, that he was at one time a +shoeblack. + +One day, meeting the son of Lord ----, he was accosted in a tone of +scorn: 'I remember when you blacked my father's boots.' + +His answer came without anger, and as brave as true, '_Yes, and did I +not do it well?_' + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 148._) + + +By this time Mr. Parsons' peculiar proceedings were beginning to arouse +my suspicions. I could not fail to notice that he had twice told me to +make trifling purchases, and that, although he had received some pennies +in exchange for the first florin, he yet brought out a half-crown for +the wax lights. My dawning suspicions grew stronger on the way home on a +penny omnibus, when he offered the conductor another two-shilling piece. + +The conductor was an amiable, talkative man, and Mr. Parsons had already +begun a conversation with him. + +'Haven't you got anything smaller?' he asked, 'because I have been doing +nothing but giving change half the day.' + +'Sorry I haven't,' said Mr. Parsons. + +'Well, I shall have to give you a shilling's worth of coppers,' answered +the conductor. + +'All right--all right, it can't be helped,' said Mr. Parsons, and, of +course, I knew that he had already several pennies in his pockets. + +'There was the change out of the wax lights and the ginger-beer,' I +suggested. + +'So there was,' he cried, with a sharp glance over his shoulder, as if +to make certain that the conductor had left the roof. + +When the omnibus stopped at our turning, I rose quickly, always on the +look-out for a chance to escape, but I felt a grip on my knee. + +'Age before honour, Jacky,' said Mr. Parsons, who took the precaution to +alight first and to help me down the last step. + +'Once upon a time,' he remarked, as we walked towards the house, 'I knew +a lad about your age who was just a leetle too clever, and perhaps you +would like to hear what happened to him.' + +'What?' I inquired with a shudder. + +'That little lad, Jacky, was licked with a strap. The little lad, Jacky, +was kept in one room without any food till he learnt how to behave and +keep his thoughts to himself. See, Jacky?' + +'Yes,' I answered, 'I see,' and I felt helpless. + +We had not been in the house more than half an hour, when he went to a +cupboard on one side of the front room and took out a coiled strap. + +'That's what I was telling you about, my lad,' he said with a smile. +'Don't be afraid; take it in your hand and feel it. A good bit of +leather--there's nothing like leather, you know. Just hold it in your +right hand; now open your left. Try it, Jacky, try it,' he cried, with a +strange glitter in his eyes, and I dared not think of disobedience, but +raised the strap and brought it down lightly on my palm. + +'Now, good obedient boys find me very kind to them,' he continued; 'very +kind indeed, Jacky. And if there's anything you'd like to amuse +yourself, why, you have only to say the word.' + +Apart from worse evils, I found the hours drag terribly slowly, +especially as I had nothing whatever to divert my thoughts. Moreover, I +felt extremely anxious to fall in with his humour. + +'I suppose there isn't a book I could have?' I suggested. + +'Why not, my lad?' he answered. 'I didn't want particular to go out +again to-day, but anything to encourage a good young chap. There is a +nice shop in Edgware Road--hundreds of books for fourpence-halfpenny +each. Come along, Jacky!' + +I had not counted on being taken so quickly at my word, but Mr. Parsons +at once put on his hat, and, giving me mine, led me out into the street, +and so to the large bookshop, where I saw piles of cheap novels. Not +daring to refuse to buy one even if I wished, I selected, after some +hesitation, a copy of the _Three Musketeers_, which I paid for with +another two-shilling piece. At least, it enabled me to forget some of my +troubles for two hours that evening. I had never read the book before, +and sitting in a corner of the ill-lighted room, I soon became lost in +the exciting story. + +When it was bed-time, Mr. Parsons himself accompanied me to my room, +where the bed was exactly as I had left it that morning. + +'Be careful of your collar, Jacky,' he said when we reached the top +story. 'I set great value on a nice clean collar. Mind you don't crumple +it.' + +When I had entered the room I was not surprised to hear him put a key in +the lock and turn it. Although it was not pleasant to feel that I was a +prisoner, I had little fear of personal injury unless I openly rebelled. +Perhaps this is what I ought actually to have done; if so, I can only +say that I did not possess sufficient courage. + +I understood now, beyond a doubt, that the people with whom I had become +connected were neither more nor less than makers of false coin. While +Mr. Loveridge, and the third man whom I had seen that day, conducted the +manufacture in the basement, Mr. Parsons spent his time in getting rid +of the result of their labours. I imagined that he had begun to meet +with difficulties, and that he thought a decently dressed boy of honest +appearance would prove an excellent tool for his purpose. + +It was plain that having once permitted me to learn his occupation, Mr. +Parsons could not, for the sake of his own safety, afford to let me go, +lest I should give information to the police. At any cost he would keep +me under observation, and as far as I could see I should find it +extremely difficult to escape. Yet, on the other hand, I felt certain +that as long as I obeyed, I should be free from actual ill-usage. That +he could be cruel on occasion I had no doubt, and he had certainly +managed to overawe my little stock of courage. But when I had said my +prayers that night, I felt stronger and braver; before I fell asleep I +determined to do my utmost to keep my spirits up; I would meet cunning +with cunning, and above everything give him no cause for suspicion. + +But the next day a slight difficulty arose. In the morning I lay on my +bed reading the adventures of D'Artagnan and the rest, until Mr. Parsons +was pleased to unlock my door and let me out of the bedroom, when I made +no complaint of his conduct in turning the key. Having had breakfast, +although every meal in that house was repulsive, and I felt as if the +food would choke me, and almost wished it might, we set out as usual, +and before we had gone far, Mr. Parsons stopped at a tobacconist's shop, +and, giving me a half-crown, told me to buy a threepenny packet of +cigarettes. + +It was a shop of a better class than any he had sent me into before, +and, placing the coin on the counter, I asked for what I had been +ordered to buy. But the man behind the counter seized upon the +half-crown at once. + +'That looks to me like a bad one,' he cried, gazing into my face, and I +suppose that my heightened colour, or some expression of guilty +knowledge, told him that I knew that as well as he did. Placing the rim +of the coin in a metal niche on the edge of the counter, he easily broke +the false half-crown into two pieces, which he flung into my face. One +of them hit my left cheek a little painfully. + +'Now be off and never show your face here again,' he shouted, 'or I will +have you locked up.' + +Without a word, although my blood was boiling, and I had never been +spoken to in this way before, I hung my head and walked out of the shop. + +As soon as I reached the street, Mr. Parsons seized my arm as usual. + +'Change!' he said. + +'I have not got it,' I answered. + +'How's that?' he sharply snapped out. + +'The man said the half-crown was bad, and broke it in halves,' I +exclaimed, and gripping me more tightly Mr. Parsons quickened his pace +and turned aside down the first street on our right. + +I felt that he was eyeing me significantly as we went, and my thoughts +were busy in an attempt to determine the wisest line of action. Perhaps +my circumstances were making me artful, and it is true that I felt +convinced that my escape could only be accomplished by strategy. + +It may appear that nothing would have been more simple than to free +myself, especially as I spent some hours in the public streets every +day. Now that I look back on those days from a position of safety, I +even wonder whether a little more resolution, a little more courage, +might have earlier put an end to my difficult position. Surely it must +have been possible to have wrenched my arm from Parsons' grasp, and he +would not have dared to raise the hue and cry after me, or do anything +to attract attention to himself. Or I might have appealed to any +policeman for protection, or to a passer-by, and so have shaken off my +tormentor. + +Perhaps some such attempt might have succeeded, but unfortunately a +potent factor in my case was the terror with which in some way Mr. +Parsons still succeeded in inspiring me. I have found myself since those +days in positions of some peril, but never have I known such fear as of +that old, smug-looking man. This dread had an almost paralysing effect, +nor could I fail to forget the terrible penalty I should certainly have +to pay if my bid for liberty were not to succeed. So that Mr. Parsons +held me in a grip tighter than that of his hand on my arm; for after all +I was scarcely more than fifteen years of age at the time, and it was no +disgrace to be afraid. + +As we hastened away from the neighbourhood of the tobacconist's shop, my +fear was that Parsons might suspect that I was dissembling. He could +scarcely believe I was sufficiently stupid not to have had my eyes +opened by this time, and if I appeared to treat the affair as a matter +of course his watchfulness might be redoubled. + +His deliberate purpose was, indeed, to pollute my mind, to show me that +my easiest course was to fall in with his wishes, and now as we hastened +along the streets, I determined to try to lead him to believe that his +efforts were already beginning to prove successful. + +'I believe that other money was bad, too,' I said. + +'Oh, you do, do you, Jacky?' he answered. + +'Yes,' I cried, 'and you make it downstairs at your house.' + +'Jacky, my lad, you haven't forgotten the story I told you about the boy +who was too clever?' + +'Still,' I replied, 'one needn't be a fool although one needn't be what +you call _too_ clever.' + +'True for you, my lad,' said Mr. Parsons. + +'Only,' I continued, playing my part with as much skill as I possessed, +and more than I could have believed myself capable of a few days ago, 'I +don't want to get locked up.' + +'No, no,' he answered, 'I don't want you to get locked up either, Jacky. +I should miss you, you know, very much. But you act sensibly, and you +will be all right. What's more, I will show you how to make your fortune +before we have done.' + +'I should like to make a fortune,' I said, with perfect truth. But, +still, as we walked home by a round-about way, without attempting any +further business that morning, I could not quite make up my mind whether +I had succeeded in hoodwinking my companion or not. + +(_Continued on page 162._) + +[Illustration: "'Be off, or I will have you locked up!'"] + +[Illustration: "I took to my heels at once."] + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 159._) + + +At least Mr. Parsons could not fail to be aware that I now understood +something of the truth about his occupation, while I had certainly done +my utmost to make him believe that I regarded it without any deep +dislike. + +Had I succeeded or not? On the answer to that question my prospects of +escape to a great degree depended. When we reached the house, his manner +undergoing no change, I went to bed more hopefully than usual. During +the morning we had walked round a large block of buildings forming one +shop, with three doors in Oxford Street and two in another street +behind. Now, if I could induce Mr. Parsons to let me enter by one of the +front doors, it would be easy enough to pass through and make an escape +from the rear, for he had never yet accompanied me into a shop. + +During the next few days, however, we did not go near Oxford Street; the +first day was wet, so that Mr. Parsons stayed at home, and when the +weather changed, we took a train to Uxbridge, where I succeeded in +exchanging five half-crowns--not without many self-reproaches. + +The next day being Sunday, none of us left the house, and I think this +was the most miserable time of all that I spent beneath Mr. Parsons' +roof. I missed the Sunday service, and felt very lonely and helpless. At +last, pretending to be overcome by drowsiness, I asked permission to go +to bed at seven o'clock. + +Whether or not it was due to the brightness of the morning, I awoke with +a sense of unaccustomed exhilaration, and something seemed to assure me +that I should find my longed-for opportunity to escape before night. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +As to what was to happen if I escaped, I had very little idea. Once let +me get away from my present surroundings, and nothing else seemed to +matter; things could not easily become worse. But, as a matter of fact, +I had thought once or twice that I would run the risk of trying to +discover Rogers, Captain Knowlton's servant, who had certainly not +accompanied him on board the _Seagull_. I knew that Captain Knowlton had +given up his rooms before he left England, but still I might succeed in +finding some one who could tell me where Rogers lived, and I felt +certain the man would help me if possible. Hitherto I had determined to +avoid the Albany, thinking that Mr. Turton would take care to anticipate +me, and perhaps make arrangements for my capture, for, in spite of all I +had passed through, I shrank as much as ever from the idea of returning +to Castlemore, and Augustus and the other fellows at Ascot House. Still, +I had in my pocket only the bad half-crown which Mr. Parsons had given +me in the train, and it seemed wiser to take the risk of being +intercepted, and to make my way to Captain Knowlton's old quarters. But +at present I stood no chance of making my way anywhere alone, and the +first thing I had to do was to get clear of Mr. Parsons and the +Loveridges. + +'A lovely morning, Jacky,' Mr. Parsons remarked on Monday, as he took my +arm and led me away from the house. 'Makes me feel quite young again.' + +'Which way are we going?' I asked. + +'Ah, now, which way?' + +'I like Oxford Street best,' I answered. + +'Do you, my lad?' he cried, amiably. 'Then suppose we try Oxford +Street?' + +There were a great many people in the street, and it was about eleven +o'clock in the morning when I found we were drawing near the shop which +I had planned to enter by one door and to leave by another. + +'Couldn't we buy something there?' I asked. + +'Where, my lad?' + +'There,' I said, pointing to the chief entrance. + +'That is too dear for the likes of us, Jacky.' + +'Oh,' I cried, 'but I know what I could buy.' + +'What?' he demanded, and I began to wonder whether I had betrayed too +much eagerness. + +'An evening necktie,' I replied. 'They only cost about fourpence.' + +'Jacky,' said Mr. Parsons, and I felt his grasp on my arm tighten, +'Jacky, that is the sort of shop a lad like you might easily get lost +in. He might even make a mistake in the door, Jacky. No, we won't go in +there, but I will tell you where we will go.' + +'Where?' I asked, quaking with fear. + +'We will go home, my lad, and I will give you such a nice little lesson +as you will never forget as long as you live.' + +So we turned back the way we had come, walking towards the Marble Arch, +and I knew that if once I entered that hateful house, I should pay a +terrible penalty for the attempt which had been so easily seen through. + +For the next few minutes I was utterly hopeless and helpless. But I +murmured a few incoherent words of prayer, and my head grew clearer. As +the danger drew nearer with every step I took, my courage began to +return, and I determined to make a bid for freedom. Mr. Parsons' threat +in a way defeated his own end. Hitherto the fear in which I held him had +served to cow me, to make me afraid to make a dash for liberty; but this +morning the very danger seemed to encourage boldness, and as we went on +our way with his strong fingers gripping my arm just above the wrist, +yet in such a manner that he appeared to be holding me affectionately, I +cudgelled my brains to devise some method of circumventing him. + +At last, as we were close to Duke Street, Oxford Street, a bold plan +flashed across my mind. Whatever was done, it should be attempted while +there were some people about, to whom, in the last resort, I might +denounce Mr. Parsons; and yet I did not wish my actual deed to have a +spectator, since any one who saw me treat such a benevolent-looking old +gentleman as I fully intended to treat Mr. Parsons must think I was a +young rascal. + +He hesitated a moment at the corner, and then turned to his right down +Duke Street, and I fancied that he looked forward with some enjoyment to +the threatened 'little lesson.' A short distance ahead stood a +policeman at a street corner, and, as we approached, I looked up into +Mr. Parsons' face and summoned all my courage--it was certainly the +courage of despair. + +'If you don't let me go,' I said, 'I will tell that policeman who you +are as we pass.' + +In an instant he had swung me round to retrace his steps, but, doubling +my free fist, I drew back my arm and hit him with all my strength just +about the belt. The effect was instantaneous. Releasing me at once, he +was completely doubled up, standing in the middle of the pavement +outside a grocer's shop, his hands pressed against his body, gasping for +breath. Fortunately no one had seen the blow struck, though Mr. Parsons +was soon surrounded by a gaping, sympathetic group. I took to my heels +at once, almost running against the policeman, and turned to my right, +in the direction opposite to that of Mr. Parsons' dwelling-place. Soon, +however, I ceased to run, feeling fairly certain that I should not see +him again--that day, at least. And as I walked--still towards the +City--I tried to take stock of my situation. + +Besides the clothes I stood in, I possessed only a bad half-crown, and +although I had, under compulsion, changed similar coins for Parsons, I +had no intention of defrauding anybody on my own account. Taking the +coin from my pocket, I stooped and dropped it down a grating. Now that I +had nothing, I determined to risk a visit to the Albany, which I +reached--always on the look-out for Mr. Parsons--at a little past two +o'clock. Nothing, however, but disappointment awaited me here. I saw a +man who appeared to be a kind of porter, and he told me that Captain +Knowlton had given up the rooms on leaving London--a fact which I knew +perfectly well already. But he had no notion where I could find Rogers, +so that I walked away in a somewhat dejected mood. + +Nevertheless I was able to rejoice at the successful escape from +something much worse than I had yet endured, and having once triumphed +over Parsons, I no longer feared him as I used to do. Even if I met him +in the street, I believed I could prevent him from taking me back to his +house, and the more pressing difficulty was how to obtain food and +shelter, and, subsequently, work. + +Becoming hungry as the afternoon wore on, I went into St. James's Park, +and, taking off my jacket and waistcoat, did not put the waistcoat on +again, but carried it under my arm to a small pawnbroker's shop near +Victoria Station, where I obtained eightpence in exchange. For my tall +hat I received a shilling, and then, passing a very cheap shop, I bought +a grey cloth cap for threepence three-farthings, so that on the whole I +gained about one and fourpence by the deal. + +Knowing that I must husband my resources, I bought a penny saveloy and a +chunk of bread at an eating-house, and then wandered about the streets +until nearly nightfall, wondering where I should sleep. The first night +was, however, by no means uncomfortable, for, passing a large +stable-yard, I saw it contained several empty omnibuses, and, waiting +until nobody was looking, I made a rush into one of these; I lay down +at full length on the seat, and slept until a stable-man woke me at +half-past five the next morning. + +But over the next few days I intend to pass rapidly, for indeed they +were too full of wretchedness to be dwelt upon. From early morning until +late at night I wandered about the streets or in the parks, where also I +slept. I took every care of my scanty stock of money, but at last it +came to an end. Once I held a horse for twopence, once I carried a heavy +portmanteau from Charing Cross to Tottenham Court Road for a penny, and +once a lady took pity on my condition and gave me threepence. Then I +parted with my jacket, and lived on the proceeds for three days while +walking about with nothing above my shirt. + +(_Continued on page 173._) + + + + +GOOD-BYE TO THE LAST FIRE. + + + Good-bye, old fire! We won't forget + Your pleasant warmth and glow, + When evening shades were dark as jet, + And outside lay the snow. + But now, you see, we're right in May, + It's spring, without a doubt, + And so, good fire, I grieve to say + It's time that you were out. + + The little leaves are springing green, + The skies above are blue; + The primrose everywhere is seen, + The almond's blooming too. + Of course, you don't expect to stay + When flowers are round about, + And so, good fire, again I say + It's time that you were out. + + But when, once more, November chill + Its cloak of mist has spread, + And o'er the lonely winter hill + The sun goes soon to bed, + We'll call you back with joyous shout, + And, as the shades descend, + We'll draw the blinds to shut them out + And greet you as a friend. + +JOHN LEA. + + + + +A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. + +True Tales of the Year 1805. + +IV.--THE STORY OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN. + + +On the 2nd of April, 1805, was born, amid very humble surroundings, a +little Danish boy named Hans Christian Andersen, who, in later years, +became the most popular tale-writer that perhaps the world has ever +known. Andersen's Fairy Tales, though written in a past century, and for +another generation, are just as popular to-day as they ever were, and it +seems as if all children (and grown-up people who have kept their +child-like hearts) could never tire of these delightful stories. We can +all read, and re-read, the 'Ugly Duckling,' or the 'Eleven Wild Swans;' +we can sympathise with the love of the faithful 'Tin Soldier;' and who +can resist laughing at all the outrageous performances of 'Little Claus +and Big Claus?' Truly, Andersen had the key to unlock all hearts! + +[Illustration: Hans Christian Andersen. +Born April 2, 1805. Died August 4, 1875.] + +Now for the story of the writer's life. + +The father of Hans Andersen was only a poor shoe-maker, but he loved +reading and poetry, and seems to have taught his little boy a similar +love. The shoe-maker amused himself by making a toy theatre for his +little Hans, and showed him how to work the puppets, and make them act +little plays. This was a winter amusement. In the long summer days he +would often take the child to the woods--and here, in the great birch +forests, the two would spend the hours, hardly saying a word to each +other, but each dreaming his own dreams as they sauntered along the +shady paths. + +But these happy childish days soon came to an end: the kind father died, +and Hans had to go to a charity school, where he learnt little beyond +reading and writing. + +Money was now very scarce in his home, and both Hans and his mother were +often hard put to it for a meal. + +One day they went out into the fields to glean corn, and were chased off +the ground by a cruel bailiff, who ran after them with a heavy whip. The +bailiff, with his long legs, soon overtook the little eight-year-old +Hans, and was about to bring his whip down on the child's shoulders, +when Hans turned round, and looking full at the angry man, exclaimed: +'How dare you strike me when you know God can see you?' + +The bailiff was so taken aback at this rebuke from the mouth of a child +that he dropped his whip, and, fumbling in his pocket, produced some +money, which he offered to Hans to make up for his unkindness. + +A year or two later a widow wanted some one to read aloud to her, and +Hans got the place. The widow's husband had been a poet, and, as Hans +read out his poems, the boy's ambition was fired. + +'I too will be a poet!' he cried, and, on returning home, he at once set +to work and wrote--a tragedy! + +The news of this performance spread amongst the neighbours (very likely +the mother boasted of it, as mothers will), and all wished to hear it; +so they came together in one of the larger cottages, and Hans read his +wonderful tragedy to the company, and felt bitterly hurt when the +greater part of them laughed heartily at the play. + +Meanwhile the mother was growing poorer and poorer, and Hans had to +leave school, and to try and earn his bread. + +[Illustration: "'How dare you strike me when you know God can see +you?'"] + +He went to a large factory, and here the workmen, finding Hans had a +good voice and knew many ballads, would get him to sing to them, and to +act scenes for their amusement from the great Danish writer, Holberg, +whilst another of the boys employed in the factory was told off to do +Hans' work for him. + +After a time, however, the men tired of Hans and his songs, and he had +to take his place amongst the other boys, who, being jealous of the +notice that had been taken of Hans, led him a sorry life. At last he +could bear their persecution no more, and left the factory--never to +return to it. + +The next few months he spent quietly at home, reading eagerly any book +he could get hold of, and specially delighting in a copy of Shakespeare. +The old toy theatre was had out once more, and the puppets were put +through the scenes of the _Merchant of Venice_ and _King Lear_. + +After a short time it was decided that Hans was to be apprenticed to a +tailor. Hans, however, had other ambitions than to sit cross-legged on a +board; he had read much lately of famous men, and he now said to his +mother, 'I want to be famous, too!' + +He had his plans all made, and had, he said, plenty of money to carry +them out, for he had lately earned the immense sum (as it seemed to him) +of thirty shillings, by singing and reciting at the houses of rich +people. With this capital he begged his mother to let him go to +Copenhagen and try his fortune. + +She consented unwillingly at last, and the fourteen-year-old boy set off +to make his own way in the world. + +He reached Copenhagen--the city which now proudly claims him for her +own--late one September afternoon, and at once went to the theatre and +begged for employment, telling the manager he had a good voice and loved +acting. + +'You are too thin for the stage,' said the manager, shortly. + +'Let me have a salary of a hundred dollars, sir, and I will soon grow +fat,' quickly answered the boy. + +'We only take people of education here,' said the manager, and poor Hans +had to go away with a heavy heart. + +Could he only have foreseen that in a few years' time his own plays +would be acted at that very theatre, and a throng of eager citizens +would be applauding the words of the now friendless boy! + +But this was all in the future. At present misery and starvation stared +him in the face. + +At last, after he had met with endless failures, a rich Copenhagen +merchant saw there was genius in the boy, and, finding that he lacked +education, sent him to school to learn Latin and mathematics. + +It was, of course, very galling to Hans, now a tall lad of seventeen, to +have to sit on a bench with little boys of nine and ten, and be jeered +at by both master and scholars for his backwardness. But Hans +persevered, and at last he passed all his examinations, and was granted +a travelling scholarship. + +Meanwhile he had published his first book, which was at once successful; +the promise of his boyhood began to be fulfilled, for he wrote the fairy +tales by which he became famous, not only in his own country, but all +over Europe. + +He travelled in Italy, France, Germany, and Spain, and in 1847 he came +to England, where, to his great delight, he found his stories better +known than even in his own country. He was a welcome guest at many of +our great houses, and, on a second visit to England some few years +later, he stayed with Charles Dickens at Gad's Hill. + +Andersen never married; he lived in Copenhagen when not on his travels, +and here he loved to gather round him children of all ages and all +ranks, whom he would delight with some of his wonderful tales. + +On his seventieth birthday he was fairly overwhelmed with letters and +presents of kindly greetings from all parts of the globe, and these +tokens of love and goodwill much pleased the old man. + +The end came a few months later, and on August 4th, 1875, Hans Christian +Andersen died, regretted by all who had come in contact with him, and +most of all by the band of children whom he had so loved to gather round +him. + + + + +HEROES AND HEROINES OF FAMOUS BOOKS. + +II.--THE DEERSLAYER.[2] + + +Hurry Harry, Deerslayer, Judith, and Hetty are the four principal +characters in Cooper's famous book, which has delighted many thousands +of readers. + +Hurry Harry, as he was nicknamed, his real name being Harry March, had a +dashing, reckless, off-hand manner, and a restlessness that kept him +constantly moving about from place to place. He was six feet four in +height, well proportioned, with a good-humoured, handsome face. +Deerslayer was a very different man from Hurry Harry, both, in +appearance and character. He, too, was tall, being six feet high, but +with a comparatively light and slender frame. His face was not handsome, +but his expression invited confidence, for it had a look of truth and +sincerity. + +Hurry was twenty-eight years of age and Deerslayer several years +younger. Their dress was composed of deer-skins, and they were armed +with rifles, powder-horns, and hunting-knives. The two men were guided +by very different principles, those of Hurry Harry being entirely +selfish, while Deerslayer sought, backwoodsman though he was, to live up +to what he called 'white-man's nature.' + +Judith and Hetty were supposed to be the daughters of a man known as +'Floating Tom,' otherwise Thomas Hutter, a man who had been a noted +pirate in his younger days, but in his later years had settled down--as +he hoped, beyond the reach of the King's cruisers--to enjoy his plunder. + +At the time at which the story is laid Britain and France were at war, +fighting in Canada, and it is said that neither side had refrained from +offering payment for scalps. Whatever excuse there may have been for +tribes of Indians taking the scalps of their enemies, there can have +been none for Christian white men, and so Deerslayer held, but not so +Hurry Harry and Thomas Hutter, both of whom, as we shall notice, +suffered for their cruel practices. + +If Hurry and Deerslayer were unlike in appearance, character, and +principle, so, too, were Judith and Hetty. Judith was very handsome, +quick-witted, fond of admiration and fine clothes, while Hetty was not +beautiful to look at. Hetty was possessed of a weak mind, and cared +little for the admiration of others, although she was of an affectionate +nature. Her principles were good, and she ever sought to follow the good +she knew, her constant companion being her Bible, for which she had the +deepest reverence, while the good counsels of her mother, whose body +rested beneath the waters of the lake beside which the family dwelt, +were put in daily practice by the devoted child. + +Two other characters of the story deserve more than a passing word. One +was Chingachgook the hunter, the other 'Hist,' a lovable maiden, both of +whom were great friends of Deerslayer; they were Delaware Indians by +nationality. + +(_Concluded on page 171._) + +FOOTNOTE: + +[2] _The Deerslayer_, by J. Fenimore Cooper. There are several cheap +editions published which can be easily obtained. + + + + +PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS. + +8.--RHYMED METAGRAM. + + 1. Now thin and plain, now rich and sweet, + But nearly always good to eat. + + 2. A pigment painters use when they + The lovely blushing rose portray. + + 3. A garden tool we sometimes need + When smoothing soil and sowing seed. + + 4. Our true regard for any friend; + The purpose, final cause, or end. + + 5. To seize, to choose, to get, to hold, + Sometimes to catch, as we catch cold. + + 6. Active, alive, to cease from sleep; + A noisy Irish feast to keep. + +C. J. B. + +[_Answers on page 195._] + + + + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON PAGE 130. + +6.--1. Cat. 2. Yes. 3. Will. 4. Pony. 5. Dry. + Rat. Yet. Pill. Pond. Day. + Rag. Pet. Pile. Bond. Way. + Hag. Pot. Pine. Band. Pay. + Hog. Not. Pint. Bard. Pat. + Dog. No. Pent. Bare. Pet. + Went. Care. Wet. + Won't. Cart. + + +7.--_Never despair._ + + 1. Paris. + 2. Pear. + 3. Rasp. + 4. Veer. + 5. Rip. + 6. Near. + 7. Nerves. + 8. Spain. + 9. Span. +10. Drip. + + + + +THE TWO PUPILS. + +A Hindu Fable. + + +An old philosopher who had two pupils one day gave each a sum of money, +and told them to purchase something with it, which should fill the room +where they did their studies. One pupil went out into the market and +bought a large quantity of hay and straw, and the next morning he +invited his master to see his room, which he had almost filled with the +results of his purchase. + +'Ah! very good, very good!' exclaimed the philosopher; and now turning +to the other pupil, he said, 'Well, friend, and what have you bought?' + +'A small lamp and some oil, which will fill the room with light in the +dark evening hours. This will enable us to continue our studies by night +as well as by day, if we should so wish,' replied the pupil. + +'You have made the best purchase,' said the philosopher. + +A wise pupil, who profits by instruction, is the delight of the master. + + + + +THE DUKE AND THE TRAVELLER. + + +For a quarter of an hour, during one of the greatest crises of the +Battle of Waterloo, when the Duke of Wellington had sent all his +_aides-de-camp_ with orders to the different divisions of the army, he +found himself alone at the very moment when he most needed help. While +watching the movements of his troops through his field-glasses, he saw +Kempt's brigade beginning a manoeuvre which, if not promptly +countermanded, would probably lead to the loss of the battle. But there +was no officer at hand to convey his orders. Just then he turned round +in his saddle, and saw not far off a single horseman, rather quaintly +attired, coolly watching the progress of the strife. The instant the +Duke caught sight of him, he beckoned to him, and asked him who he was, +why he was there, and how he had passed the lines. + +He answered: 'I am a traveller for a wholesale button manufactory in +Birmingham, and was showing my samples in Brussels when I heard the +sound of the firing. Having had all my life a strong desire to see a +battle, I at once got a horse, and set out for the scene of action; and, +after some difficulty, I have reached this spot, whence I expect to have +a good view.' + +The Duke, pleased with his straightforward answer, determined to turn +his sense and daring to good account, and addressed him as follows: 'You +ought to have been a soldier. Would you like to serve your country now?' + +'Yes, my lord,' said the other. + +'Would you take a message of importance for me?' + +Touching his hat in military fashion the traveller replied, 'Were I +trusted by you, sir, I would think this the proudest day of my life.' + +Putting his field-glass into the man's hands, the Duke explained to him +the position of the brigade that had made the false move, and added: 'I +have no writing materials by me; see, therefore, that you are very +accurate in delivering my message.' He then entrusted to him a brief, +emphatic order, which he made him repeat, that there might be no +mistake. + +The orders were barely delivered before the stranger was off at the top +of his horse's speed, and soon disappeared amid the smoke of the battle. +After a few minutes' interval, the Duke turned his glass in the +direction of the brigade which was at fault, and exclaimed, in a joyful +tone, 'It's all right, yet. Kempt has changed his tactics. He has got my +message, for he is doing precisely as I directed him. Well done, +Buttons!' + +The Duke used to say he considered the alteration of Kempt's original +movement the turning-point of the battle. Wishing to reward our hero for +his intelligence and courage, he caused inquiries to be made for him in +every direction, but in vain. It was not till many years afterwards that +he accidentally heard of the man's whereabouts, and managed to secure +for him a good appointment in the West of England, in recognition of his +services. + +[Illustration: "'Would you take a message of importance for me?'"] + +[Illustration: "'If you hang him, you shall hang me too.'"] + + + + +NEVER DRAW A SWORD EXCEPT IN A CAUSE THAT IS JUST AND RIGHT. + + +An English sailor, when travelling through France, arrived at the town +of Vernon, where he met with a great crowd of riotous men and women. The +mob had laid hands on a wealthy man, though he had done no wrong, and +knew the use of money much better than they did. The rich man was to be +hanged. In vain did the young sailor plead with the crowd: they only +laughed at him, and pushed him aside with words of scorn. As a last +resource he boldly pushed his way through the crowd, and with a strong +grasp clung fast to the man who was so near his death. + +Above the wild yells and uproar, his voice was heard: 'This man has done +no wrong. I come to save you from a great sin. If you hang him, you +shall hang me too.' + +The worst of hearts are often touched by a noble act of self-sacrifice, +and the fearless words of truth. The Frenchmen gave a cheer for the +brave sailor, and were ready to carry him off like a hero. This gave +time for the captive to escape. When the incident became known in Paris, +the sailor received much honour, and a sword was presented to him, for +they said, 'He who had no arms, and yet could save a stranger at the +risk of his own life, will never draw a sword except in a cause that is +just and right.' The sailor became afterwards Admiral Nesham, who lived +to serve his country for many years, and died at Exmouth in 1853. + + + + +THE PIONEERS. + + + A crocus peeped out from its snow-covered bed, + In a wood where the red robins sing, + And sighed, 'I could fancy, where brown leaves are spread + I heard the first footfall of Spring.' + + And e'en while it spoke, from a tree-top above + There fluttered the song of the Wind: + 'I come from the south, with a message of love, + And the Spring follows closely behind.' + + Then while the soft echo was stealing along, + The snow melted gently away, + And over the meadow a bee's early song + Told stories of April and May. + + The bluebell and primrose are blossoming fast, + And see, where the snow-drifts still cling, + The Sun his rich mantle has gallantly cast + At the feet of her Majesty, Spring. + + + + +SMITHFIELD TOURNAMENTS. + + +Many _Chatterbox_ readers have, no doubt, visited Smithfield, and others +have seen pictures of it as it was in the olden time, when it was known +by its executions and burnings. Upon St. Bartholomew's Eve, 1305, Sir +William Wallace was put to death under the elms, a large clump of which +then stood on one side of the open space. At Smithfield, too, Wat Tyler +met King Richard II. on June 15th, 1381, when he received his death-blow +from the Lord Mayor of London. In more recent years it was familiar to +the public as a big cattle market, now fortunately removed to a better +spot north of London. Evidently, too, it was for centuries a very +favourite resort with the citizens, the name at first, so historians +think, being 'Smoothfield.' The level open space was turfed, and made +suitable for horse exercise and a variety of sports. + +During the Middle Ages our kings had a palace in the city, and many of +the nobles built themselves houses within the walls, or not far off. For +some centuries tournaments were forbidden on account of their danger, +and they were seldom held in England till after the reign of Richard I. +The position of Smithfield was very convenient for holding jousts and +tournaments. None but those who were esquires or knights were allowed to +take part in these contests, which usually celebrated some important +event, such as a royal marriage or a great victory. These tournaments +gave an opportunity for a display of courtesy and chivalry. Galleries +were arranged for ladies, and one in particular was chosen to preside, +who was usually called the 'Queen of Beauty.' If any dispute arose, this +lady settled it, and she also gave away the prizes awarded to the +victors. A remarkable tournament was held in 1374 at Smithfield. A grand +procession was started from the Tower; the King rode first in a +triumphal chariot, followed by a number of ladies on horseback, each of +whom had a knight leading her horse by the bridle. Many gallant feats of +arms were performed, and the tournament lasted a week. + +After the battle of Poictiers, a three-days' tournament took place in +the cold weather of March, when the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and the +sheriffs offered to hold the field against all comers. The chief of the +heralds and minstrels had forty pounds given him for his services--a +large sum in those days. Richard II. held a great tournament in 1394, +when the Earl of Mar and other nobles from Scotland appeared in the +field. Then, and for several years afterwards, there were several jousts +and combats between Scots and Englishmen. A remarkable combat took place +in 1398 on London Bridge, a wooden structure broad enough to give room +for the fighters and spectators. Sir David Lindsay and Lord Wells agreed +to run courses on horseback for life or death, and this was done in the +presence of King and court. After a desperate struggle, Sir David +Lindsay won. Again, there was a joust at Smithfield during the same +reign, when the Queen gave as prizes to the most successful in tilting a +gold coronet and a rich bracelet. At this tournament, too, there was a +grand procession from the Tower; in front there rode an array of +minstrels and heralds, while along the streets flags and banners were +displayed. + +The fifth Henry held several famous tournaments, and so did the fourth +Edward. Edward IV. had a tournament at Smithfield in which his queen's +brother, Lord Scales, engaged the young Duke of Burgundy. They fought +with spears, swords, and pole-axes, until Lord Scales slightly wounded +the Duke. It seems probable that tournaments at Smithfield ceased after +the Wars of the Roses. + +It may be as well to explain the difference between a tournament and a +joust. Jousting, or tilting, was a frequent amusement; in this the +knights fought with blunt lances, and each tried to break his opponent's +lance or to unhorse him. But in a tournament they engaged with sharp +weapons, and the combatants were often wounded, sometimes killed +outright. The large open space in St. James's Park, next to the Horse +Guards, was at first called the Tiltyard, because of the tilting that +went on there when our kings came to reside in Westminster. + + + + +HEROES AND HEROINES OF FAMOUS BOOKS. + +II.--THE DEERSLAYER. + +(_Concluded from page 167._) + + +'The Deerslayer' abounds in incident. One of the most thrilling +adventures is that which befell 'Floating Tom' and Hurry Harry, who had +so far forgotten what was due from their white man's nature as to plan +to enter the camp of the Indians at night, with the object of securing +the scalps of unwary men, women, and children, and so obtaining the +bounty offered by the Government for each scalp. On one of these +occasions, when they had gone ashore, they were taken captives by the +Indians and came very near to losing their lives. They only escaped +through the brave conduct of Hetty, the well-known straightforward +dealings of Deerslayer, and the fact that hidden away in an old +sea-chest of Hutter's, amongst fine clothes and other relics, were some +beautifully chased ivory chessmen, among them being four castles +supported by elephants, an animal unknown by sight to the American +Indians. When the grim old warriors who held Hutter and Hurry prisoners +saw the little ivory animals, their delight knew no bounds. They were +familiar with horses and oxen, and had seen towers, and found nothing +surprising in creatures of burden. They supposed the carving was meant +to represent that the animal they saw was strong enough to carry a fort +on its back. It was fortunate for the prisoners that the old sea-chest +contained such treasures; had it been otherwise, they would probably +both have lost their lives. + +They were not so fortunate when they fell a second time into the hands +of the Hurons, who had secretly gained possession of 'Muskrat Castle,' +as Hutter's house had been called. This 'castle' stood in the open lake, +at a quarter of a mile from the nearest shore. There was no island, but +the house stood on piles, with the water flowing beneath it. The lake in +other directions was of a great depth, but just where the piles had been +driven was a long narrow shoal, which extended a few hundred yards in a +north and south direction, rising to within six or eight feet of the +surface of the lake. Floating Tom had built his house strongly, while +the position made him safe against attack unless his assailants came in +a boat. One day when Hutter and his friends were absent from the +'Castle,' the Hurons took possession of it, and when Hutter and Hurry +returned they knew that they had fallen into a complete trap. Only a +short time previously, Hurry's reckless spirit had led him to commit an +act of wanton cruelty,--that of raising his gun and firing from the +canoe in which he was seated into the woods. His random shot struck down +an Indian girl, and caused her death, so that the Hurons felt no +goodwill towards him. The Indians knew, too, that Tom and Hutter would +have been only too willing to attack any of their party should it lie +within their power to do so. Hurry, whose conduct towards his foes had +been ferocious, was captured by means of a rope of bark, having an eye, +which was thrown so dexterously that the end threaded the eye, forming a +noose and drawing his elbows together behind his back with a power that +all his gigantic strength could not resist. A similar fastening secured +his ankles, and his body was rolled over on to the ground, as helpless +as a log of wood. + +Hutter fared even worse, for he was found by his daughters wounded, and +in a dying condition. + +'Oh, Judith!' exclaimed poor, weak-witted Hetty, as soon as they had +attended to the sufferer, 'Father went for scalps himself, and now where +is his own? The Bible might have foretold this dreadful punishment.' + +A different scene is that which tells what befell Deerslayer when he +fell into the hands of the foe. They had let him out on furlough, well +knowing that they could trust his word. It was in vain that his friends +in 'Muskrat Castle' tried to persuade him that he was not obliged to +keep faith with such a cruel foe. Deerslayer was firm. A promise to +return had been given, and it must be kept, for God had heard it, and +God would look for its fulfilment. Well he knew that the cruelties of +the Indians would be practised on him, and that he would be put to the +'tortures'--the young Indians, all of whom hoped to become warriors, +would not, he knew, hesitate to subject him to such woes that even to +read of them makes one's heart sink. Yet this knowledge could not deter +him from keeping faith with them. + +Bound so tightly to a tree that he could not stir an inch, he was +obliged to submit while the various young men of the Indian tribes threw +their tomahawks so as to strike the tree as near the victim's head as +possible without hitting him. His nerves stood the terrible test, and he +neither winced nor cried out with fear. The second torture was that with +the rifle, only the most experienced warriors taking part in this. Shot +after shot was sent, all the bullets coming close to the Deerslayer's +head without touching it. Still no one could detect even the twitching +of a muscle on the part of the captive or the slightest winking of an +eye. + +But we will not continue to describe the tortures to which the brave +Deerslayer was subjected, none of which could cause his brave spirit to +quail. Hetty, whose feeble mind won for her the esteem and care of the +Hurons--who believed that the feeble-minded were under the special +favour of the Great Spirit--unable to endure the thought of what +Deerslayer, their good friend, might be suffering, made her way to the +camp of the foe, carrying her Bible with her, and there addressed the +chiefs and warriors assembled at the 'sports.' They listened to her +patiently and kindly for a time, but after a while bade her sit down, +and proceeded with their dreadful work. In vain did Judith, dressed out +in all the brocaded finery from the old sea-chest, suddenly appear on +the scene, telling them that she was a great mountain-queen who had come +in person to demand that Deerslayer be set free. Both the sisters' +attempts failed, and death would have been the lot of the good man had +not troops from the nearest garrison arrived at the very moment when +they were most needed, and so saved Deerslayer. + +[Illustration: The Deerslayer in the Hands of the Indians.] + +[Illustration: "He grasped my left wrist."] + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 163._) + + +I descended to terrible depths during those homeless days, and, at the +lowest, when half-starving, dirty, hopeless, it happened that I almost +ran against Mr. Parsons. It was about a quarter to three, in Brook +Street. He stopped abruptly, and stood gazing at me with an evident +effort to maintain his usual expression of benevolence. + +'Now,' he said, smoothly, 'you will just make up your mind to come along +with me, my lad.' + +'I know I won't,' I answered. + +He stood with his hands on the crook of his umbrella, while his lower +jaw moved as if he were trying to swallow something; but whether it was +one of his favourite aniseed lozenges, or his indignation against +myself, was more than I could tell. One thing, however, seemed certain: +if he strove to hide his wrath, it could only be with the object of +getting me once more into his power. + +'Ah, Jacky, my lad,' he exclaimed, shaking his head, 'you have not done +much good for yourself since you turned your back on your best friend. A +great mistake, Jacky--a great mistake!' + +Indeed, I must have looked very disreputable. A pair of grey trousers, +supported by one brace--the other having given way some days ago--a +dirty shirt, neither jacket nor waistcoat, unwashed hands and face, +boots coated in mud, hair which had not lately known a comb and +brush--it would have been difficult to find a grubbier street-arab +within a few miles. + +'Anything is better than living with you,' I cried. + +He had drawn closer, but at the same time I took the precaution to edge +away, determined on no account to allow him to put a hand on me again. + +'Don't be afraid, my lad,' he said. + +'I'm not,' I answered, though it was only half-true. + +'I don't want to hurt you, Jacky,' he continued, in a wheedling voice. +'I want to be your friend. You look hungry, my lad; now come along with +me--not home, but to a nice little eating-house I know. The hot joints +will be just ready. Nice hot joints, Jacky--roast beef and Yorkshire +pudding, and apple pie to follow. It is waiting for you round the +corner, Jacky, as much as you like to eat, and then we can have a nice +quiet chat together.' + +It appeared inconsistent, but the naming of these luxuries caused a +feeling of something like temptation for the moment, which only those +who have been in need of food can understand. While I knew that nothing +in the world could induce me to accompany Mr. Parsons, still the mention +of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding tickled my palate, and a great +longing for something to eat came over me. I had tasted no food that +day, and yesterday only a few scraps. + +Instead of answering, I turned my back, whereupon Mr. Parsons thrust out +his umbrella, catching my right arm with its crook, while at the same +time he grasped my left wrist with his disengaged hand. Now I had been +conscious of a strange giddiness and weakness, with a tendency to let my +thoughts wander, during the whole of yesterday and to-day, and at this +moment the fear suddenly seized upon me that I might be unable to resist +the man and consequently fall into his hands again. So raising my voice +I shouted with all my might, 'Police! police!' and although no policeman +appeared, two or three passers-by soon collected around us, while Mr. +Parsons still gripped my wrist. + +'Would some gentleman kindly call me a cab?' said Parsons, in a voice +which might have deceived anybody. 'You will break your father's heart, +Jacky,' he continued. 'Now come home to your mother without making any +more trouble.' + +'You are not my father,' I answered, still speaking as loudly as I +could. 'You are a thief, you make false coin, and you live at----' + +'Ah!' cried an old lady, who formed one of the small crowd which by this +time had collected, 'here is a policeman at last,' and at the same +moment I felt Mr. Parsons' grasp relax. Pushing his way through the +throng, he stepped into the middle of the road, stopped a passing +hansom, entered it and was driven off. While the old lady intercepted +the policeman, I seized the opportunity to get away, turning my steps +towards Hyde Park, where I sat down on a seat. + +Now I began to find a difficulty in keeping my eyes open; my chin +constantly dropped on to my chest, and then I would wake again with a +start. + +I seemed to be living again through all that had occurred since I left +Castlemore: again I was selling the silver watch and chain at Broughton, +while the tramp gazed at me through the window; again I was being +pursued along the main road, sleeping under the tree in the wood, robbed +of all I was possessed in the chestnut plantation. Once more I was +awakened after a short sleep by Mr. Baker's dog, Tiger, and taken to the +cosy farmhouse with the red blinds, where Eliza gave me food and a +comfortable bed, in which I dared not lie down to rest, because I knew +that Mr. Baker would be certain to carry me back to Ascot House the +following morning. Then again I was racing across fields, floundering +into damp ditches in the darkness, sleeping in the shed, and afterwards +helping a bicyclist to blow up his tyre in the country lane. Once more I +seemed to be lying prone in the cornfield, while Mr. Turton inquired +whether Mr. Westlake had seen me, and Jacintha was looking down from the +other side of the hedge at the same moment. I was sleeping in the empty +house on the forest, and shivering at the weird, ghostly sounds in the +night; I was again delighted to make friends with Patch, and regretful +to have him taken away from me by the fat ginger-beer man. + +I could almost taste the pear and the preserved apricot which I had +eaten in the arbour at Colebrooke Park with Jacintha and Dick; once more +I made the acquaintance of Mr. Parsons in the train. + +Which, if any, of these were waking memories, which were feverish +dreams, it is quite impossible to tell, but every day's experience +seemed to be lived through again, and, at all events, at last I must +have fallen pretty soundly asleep; and after I actually woke again, +reality appeared like a dream. It seemed perfectly natural, after my +recent adventure with Parsons, to meet Jacintha and a lady, who, from +the likeness, in a confused kind of way I imagined must be her mother. + +I fancy that I must have opened my eyes for an instant, and then, +unwillingly, have closed them again. At any rate, as I sat on the seat, +there stood Jacintha, much more gaily dressed than I had seen her +before, with gloves and a sunshade, and high buttoned boots, but +apparently taking no notice of me as she continued to talk very quickly +and excitedly to her companion. They were still in the same position, +Mrs. Westlake listening with a kindly, grave face, Jacintha looking +almost as if she had been crying, when I once more opened my eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +'Jacintha!' I murmured, and still she seemed to be almost a part of my +dream. + +'Mother, he is awake!' cried Jacintha, and Mrs. Westlake leaned forward +towards me. + +'I want you to come home with me,' she said, but when I tried to stand, +it seemed as if I should have fallen if she had not put a hand beneath +my arm. With Mrs. Westlake supporting me on one side and Jacintha on the +other, I managed to cross the road to the nearest gate, where a hansom +was hailed, and I found myself seated by Mrs. Westlake's side, while +Jacintha was perched on her knees. Probably I dozed off again the next +minute, for the next thing I knew was that the hansom had stopped before +the door of a large house, where a middle-aged butler carried me through +the hall and laid me down on the dining-room sofa. + +Mrs. Westlake seemed to be holding a whispered conversation with a +short, stout, rather elderly nurse, whose name was Harper, and presently +she left the room, to return a few minutes later with a breakfast cup +full of beef-tea, after drinking which I felt very much better. A little +later, the butler half-led, half-carried me upstairs, and I seemed to be +getting into a deliciously comfortable bed, where I quickly fell asleep +in earnest. I have an idea that Harper came to look at me once or twice +during that night, and the next morning she took my temperature with a +thermometer, but although she declared there was not anything the matter +with me, I felt very tired, and not in the least sorry when she brought +me my breakfast in bed. + +It was about twelve o'clock when Mrs. Westlake herself came to tell me +to get up, and then Harper brought a dressing-gown, which together with +everything else in the room must have belonged to Dick, who was away +from home on a week's visit. + +'First of all, you are to have a nice warm bath,' she said, and she led +the way to a bath-room, where she had already made everything ready. The +water was quite a foot deep and delightfully hot. + +When I had had a bath, and put on a summer vest, a white shirt, a suit +(almost new) of drab tweed with knickerbockers, a collar and a decent +blue and white spotted tie, I confess that I regarded my figure in the +glass with considerable approval. + +'If you're quite ready,' said Harper, outside the door, 'you're to come +to lunch,' but first she led the way to what was evidently Mr. +Westlake's smoking-room. I fancied from his manner that he only +half-approved of all that Mrs Westlake had done for me. He reminded me +of Captain Knowlton, not because the faces were alike so much as because +they both seemed to dress and speak in the same way. Captain Knowlton +had been dark-haired, and wore a moustache, while Mr. Westlake was fair, +and his upper lip was shaven, but he also wore an eyeglass, and stood +nearly six feet in height, appearing a little stiff before I knew him +properly. As Mrs. Westlake led me towards him, she said a few words in +French, and I knew that they referred to her own boy, and the +possibility that he might want friends some day, but still Mr. Westlake +did not offer his hand, but only nodded and said, 'How d'ye do?' + +'Let us go to luncheon,' he exclaimed the next moment, and I stepped +forward to open the door for Mrs. Westlake. In the dining-room I saw +Jacintha, who at once met me with her hand outstretched. + +'You gave me quite a shock in Dick's clothes,' she cried. + +'I am most awfully obliged to you,' I said, turning to Mrs. Westlake. +'I--I don't know what to say.' + +The butler stood with his back slightly bowed, ready to remove a +dish-cover; Jacintha shook back her hair, and looked tearful; Mrs. +Westlake stared at the plates at her end of the table, and her husband +put a pair of hands on my shoulders and pushed me towards my chair, +facing Jacintha. + +'That's all right,' he cried. 'Sit down and have a good luncheon. We +will talk by-and-by.' + +(_Continued on page 181._) + + + + +THE FEAST OF CHERRIES. + + +Readers of _Chatterbox_ will remember a story which told how a child +saved a German town; here is another tale of a siege in which children +played an important part. + +One morning, during the siege of Hamburg, a weary merchant was slowly +returning to his house. With other business men, he had been aiding in +the defence of the walls. So severe had been the fighting that he had +not taken off his clothes for a week. + +He reflected bitterly that all his labour was in vain, for by the +following day famine would have compelled a surrender. Passing through +his garden, he found himself admiring his cherry-trees, which were +loaded with fruit. The mere sight was refreshing, and a thought occurred +to the merchant. He was aware that the enemy were suffering from thirst. +How glad they would be of that juicy fruit! Could he not by its means +purchase safety for his city? + +There was no time to lose, and he speedily made up his mind. He +collected three hundred small children belonging to the city, had them +all dressed in white, and loaded them with cherry-branches from his +orchard. Then the gates were opened, and they were sent forth in the +direction of the enemy. + +When the commander of the besieging force saw the white-robed procession +passing through the gates he suspected some trick, and prepared for +battle; but when the children came nearer, and he saw how pale and thin +they were from want of food, tears filled his eyes, for he thought of +his own little ones at home. + +As the thirsty--and, in some cases, wounded--soldiers received the juicy +fruit from the children's hands, a cheer arose from the camp. Love and +pity had conquered. The little ones returned accompanied by waggons of +food for the famished citizens, and an honourable treaty of peace was +signed the next day. + +For many years, the anniversary of the day on which this deed was done +was kept as a holiday, its name being 'The Feast of Cherries.' The +streets were thronged with children, each one carrying a cherry-branch. +Then they ate the cherries themselves, in honour of their brave little +forerunners, the saviours of their city of Hamburg. + +[Illustration: "He loaded the children with cherry branches."] + +[Illustration: "One pig went squealing down the road."] + + + + +TOO CLEVER. + + + Jim Brown stood at the farmer's door-- + 'I want a job,' he said. + 'Well, lad, have you done aught before?' + But Jim just shook his head; + An idler boy he'd always been + Than any in the village seen. + + 'Well, tell me now, what can you do?' + 'Oh, anything,' said Jim. + 'Oh, anything!' said Farmer Grey; + Then looking hard at him-- + 'Well, drive these pigs to neighbour Pratt-- + 'Tis time they went, they're prime and fat.' + + Jim drove the pigs from out the yard, + But, ere they'd gone a mile, + One pig went squealing down the road, + And one towards a stile; + And while Jim pondered what to do, + The naughty pig just wriggled through. + + Just then the farmer chanced to pass; + 'Hullo!' said he, 'what's wrong?' + And when he saw Jim's downcast face, + He laughed both loud and long. + 'My lad,' said he, with knowing wink, + 'You're not as clever as you think.' + +C. D. BOGLE. + + + + +TORN TO RAGS. + + +The curious and interesting 'little ways' of Ferdinand de Lesseps, the +designer of the Suez Canal, gained for him the favour of many prominent +Egyptian officials, when he was in Egypt, and he was often able to get +over a difficulty and do a kind act by unusual means. Among his duties +was the inspection of a large number of convicts in the Egyptian +galleys. Some of these were political prisoners--rather more than four +hundred unfortunate Syrians, who had been brought from Syria by Ibrahim +Pasha, son of Mehemet Ali, the famous Viceroy. + +The Syrian prisoners begged the French count to help them to freedom. De +Lesseps had no real power to do this, but he had a kind heart, and did +his best to procure the release of the prisoners. + +When, however, he mentioned the subject to Mehemet Ali, the Viceroy +shook his head. + +'These men,' said he, 'are my son's captives, and in such a matter I +could no more handle him than I could handle the lightning.' + +De Lesseps would not be put off. Mehemet, impressed by his persistence, +and wishing to stand well with the French, at last told De Lesseps that +he would manage to get five prisoners released quietly every week, until +all were free. + +He kept his word, and this piecemeal business of freeing the prisoners +began. But very soon De Lesseps' house was besieged by the relatives and +friends of the Syrians still imprisoned, all begging him to use his +influence to get their own special friends included in the next batch to +be set free. + +The anxious folk thronged round the Frenchman, and in their eagerness +plucked at his sleeve and tore it. He resolved to turn this fact to +account with the Viceroy. He had an old suit of clothes torn into +actual tatters, and wore it upon his next occasion of seeing Mehemet. + +Mehemet was naturally greatly astonished at his friend's strange +appearance. + +'What on earth has happened to you?' said the Viceroy. + +'In arranging that five of those prisoners should be freed each week,' +replied De Lesseps, 'you have made me the prey of the relatives of those +who yet remain in the galleys. The number of the Syrians was four +hundred and twelve; therefore your Highness can easily reckon up and +tell how long I must go in rags.' + +The Viceroy was highly amused with the serious and pitiful look which De +Lesseps put on as he said these words. After indulging in a hearty +laugh, he gave orders for the immediate release of the remaining +prisoners. Thus, by his ready wit, De Lesseps persuaded the Viceroy into +an action which he would never have done if asked plainly at first. + +E. D. + + + + +WHITE NEGROES. + + +Have you ever heard of a white negro? Perhaps you will laugh at me for +asking the question, but there really are such people in the world, and +travellers and missionaries have met with them. I do not mean to say +that there are whole tribes of white negroes in some far-off countries, +which are not often visited by travellers, but that, scattered among all +or nearly all the black races, there are individuals who are white. +These persons are like the rest of the tribe in size and shape; they +have the same features, and the same kind of hair; but their complexion +is white, their hair is either quite white or straw-coloured, and their +eyes are lighter in shade than those of their companions. + +Dr. Livingstone met with several of these white natives in some parts of +Africa, while in other parts he never saw any. One of these strange +people was a young boy, a very fine, intelligent fellow, of whom his +mother was very fond. His features were exactly like those of his +parents, who were both black. His woolly hair was yellow, and the pupils +of his eyes were pink. His father looked upon him with horror, very much +as an English father might be expected to look upon a black child, and +he treated him always as an outcast. The great traveller knew others, +both men and women, who were quite white. Their skins were always very +sensitive, and the heat of the sun blistered them very much. One of the +white women, perhaps through a sort of shame for her colour, was most +anxious for Dr. Livingstone to make her black, which was more than he +could do. + +A missionary who had spent many years in Fiji had met with five Fijians +who were white. Three of these were grown-up persons, and one was quite +a little baby, being only two or three weeks old. This baby's skin was +much whiter than that of an English baby, although both its parents were +young and healthy, and as black as any Fijian could be. The grown-up +persons were as white as, if not whiter than, a weather-beaten +Englishman, and their hair was flaxen. Their skin was very smooth, and +looked like a kind of horn, and it was cracked and blistered with the +heat of the sun, like the skin of the white negroes whom Livingstone +saw. The white Fijians had pale blue or sandy-coloured eyes, which could +not bear the heat of the sun, and the poor men went about with their +eyes half closed. Similar men with white skins and white hair are found +among the other black races which inhabit the islands of the South Sea. + +Among the red men of North America there are a few who have no colour in +their skins, and there are a great many who have light-coloured hair. In +one tribe a traveller found a great many men and women who had had grey +or white hair all their lives. He thought this was a very strange thing, +but had he known as much about other countries, he would have been aware +that this peculiarity is found among the dark races in nearly every part +of the world. White men are found not only in the countries already +named, but also in India, where they are looked upon with some amount of +dislike by their fellow-countrymen. In some parts of Africa, on the +other hand, these white men are regarded as magicians, and held in +honour by the rest of the tribe. + +Strange to say, not only are there negroes who are white, but there are +some who are patched or spotted black and white all over. I have a +picture of such a negro before me as I write. He is a native of Loango, +on the west coast of Africa. From head to foot he is spotted in black +and white patches like a piebald horse, though in all other respects he +seems a large, well-made, healthy man. I have also before me the picture +of a spotted negro boy; who was exhibited as a curiosity in one of the +London fairs nearly a hundred years ago. + +When a negro is white or piebald, it is because he has been born without +the black colouring matter which other negroes have in their skin. He +suffers from a defect, and deserves to be pitied. The black colour of a +negro's skin enables him to bear the heat of a fierce sun, and, as we +have seen, the negro whose skin is white suffers much pain and +inconvenience. A similar colouring matter in the eyes helps to shield +them from the bright glare of the sunlight, and the poor man whose eyes +are without this protection is compelled to go about with half-closed +eyes. + + + + +A BOY'S HEROISM. + +A True Anecdote. + + +A couple of boys were once climbing about some disused scaffolding in a +lonely place, when a beam on which they were standing gave way under +their feet. Both fell, the elder a little before the younger. But just +in time the elder managed to clutch another beam and hold fast to it. By +a providential coincidence, his brother, catching wildly at anything +within his reach, seized his legs, and the two hung suspended thus, with +all the weight on the elder boy's arms. Before long, the strain became +too great, and he called out to the other that they were lost, for he +could hold on no longer. No one was near, and there was little hope that +their cries would attract attention. + +'Could you save yourself if I let go?' asked the younger. + +'I think so.' + +'Then good-bye, and Heaven bless you,' said the little boy. + +With these words he let go, and was dashed to pieces upon the ground +beneath. His brother, thus released from the additional weight, was able +to pull himself up to a place of safety. + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +V.--HOW INSECTS FLY. + + +The wings of insects are like those of bats and birds only in the work +they do. In another respect they are quite different organs. The wings +of the bird and the bat, for instance, are formed from the front pair of +limbs, but the wings of insects are formed on a very different plan from +the walking limbs, of which there are never less than three pairs. The +bat and the bird have only one pair of wings, the insects have two, +though in many cases the hinder or second pair have been reduced to the +merest stumps, or vestiges, as they are called. In other words, they are +all that is left of a once useful pair. + +The butterfly has two pairs of wings; the fly is a good example of an +insect which has but one pair. The stumps or vestiges of the second pair +can only be found after careful search. But these vestiges--which are +known as the 'balancers'--have a new use, and probably act as organs of +hearing as well as to guide the flight. The butterfly uses both pairs of +wings in flight, the beetle only the hinder pair, the pair that in the +fly are only 'vestiges.' The front pair of wings in the beetle form hard +horny cases or shields for the protection of the hinder wings, which lie +beneath them when not in use. + +The wings of insects are often brilliantly coloured, and this colour may +be caused in two very different ways. Generally the colours of the wings +are due to the way the surface of the wing is made, for this surface +reflects light. But the colour of the wing of the butterfly is to be +traced to a quite different cause. If the fingers be rubbed over the +surface of a butterfly's wing, they will be found to be covered with a +fine coloured dust, whilst the wing itself will become quite transparent +(as in fig. 1). If this dust be looked at under the microscope, it will +be seen that it is made up of a number of tiny scales, most beautifully +shaped (as in fig. 2). Each scale is fixed to the surface of the wing by +a tiny stalk and in a regular order. + +From the shape of the wings in the butterfly or moth we can tell more or +less how the insect flies. Long and narrow wings give a swift and rapid +flight, broad round wings a slow and leisured flight. + +The wings of insects are moved by only a few muscles, but with wonderful +rapidity. It has been calculated that the common fly makes with its +wings three hundred strokes per second, the bee one hundred and ninety. +The dragon-fly and the common cabbage-white butterfly of our gardens, +however, have a much slower beat of their wings, the former twenty-eight +strokes per second, the latter only nine. The machinery by which they +move is like that of an oar. + +[Illustration: + +1. Butterfly's Wing (magnified). +2. Scales from Butterfly's Wing (greatly magnified). +3. Earwig (magnified): one wing folded, the other open. +4. Foot of Fly (greatly magnified).] + +Insects' wings are folded in various ways. Those of the butterfly, when +at rest, are raised up over the back, so that the upper surfaces of the +right and left wings come together. In the moth the hinder wings pass +under the fore-wings, which are held flat over the back. But the beetle +and the earwig hide their hind-wings beneath a hard case not used in +flight. The size of the hind-wings, however, is so great that before +they can be covered by the horny case, they have to be folded up, and +this is done in a really wonderful manner, especially by the common +earwig. + +Most people probably think of the earwig as flightless; but, nevertheless, +beneath a tiny pair of horny wing-cases, a very wonderful pair of +transparent wings is cunningly tucked away. The marvellous way in which +they are folded up after use we cannot describe in detail here. In each +wing there is a hinge shaped somewhat like a half-moon, in the middle of +the stiff front edge (fig. 3, in the wing extended on the left). When +the hinge is bent, the outer half of the wing folds over towards the +tail, and the tip points forward. The further inward folding of the +hinge of this rod next appears to divide the wing into two, the second +portion passing under the first, and thus bringing the wing down to half +its original size. By this time the mechanical or automatic folding +process stops, and the rest of the folding up has to be done by the aid +of the pincers at the end of the body. Finally the packing up is +complete, and the two hard outer cases, like a couple of tarpaulins, are +drawn over the delicate wings to protect them. + +On the right side of the body, in fig. 3, the wing has been folded up, +and is covered by the wing-case. + +The folding of the beetle's wing is also done by means of a hinge, but +the packing up is less close, as the outer covering cases are larger. + + * * * * * + +Most insects walk as well as fly, and their walking is not less +wonderful than their flight. Fig. 4 represents the foot of a fly. It +will be seen, under a strong microscope, to have a pair of large claws +and a pair of leaf-like plates, one on each side. The claws and the +plates have different uses. The plates are used when the fly is walking, +say, up a window-pane or along a ceiling. They are moved so as to lie +flat on the surface which the fly is crossing, and when they are laid +flat a number of tiny hairs are pushed out from them, from the tips of +which a sticky liquid oozes, so that the fly is practically glued to the +surface on which it is crawling. The claws are used to cling on to +uneven surfaces, on which they can get a good grip. In the next article +we shall say more about the way in which insects walk. + +W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S., A.L.S. + +[Illustration: "There stood Captain Knowlton."] + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 175._) + + +During the meal Mr. Westlake talked about cricket, asking whether I +played, and I explained that there had not been enough of us at +Castlemore to make a proper eleven. He inquired further about Mr. Turton +and Mr. Windlesham, and gradually led the conversation round to the days +when I used to live in Acacia Road with Aunt Marion. I told him that she +had married Major Ruston, and gone to India, but that I did not know her +address nor Major Ruston's regiment. + +'We can soon find that out,' he said, and sent the butler for the _Army +List_. When he had looked in this, he raised his eyes to my face again, +mentioning the number of the regiment, and explaining that it was at +present at Madras. + +Then he turned to the book again. 'I don't find Captain Knowlton--didn't +you say that was the name?' he asked. + +'Yes,' I answered, 'but he left the service when he came home from +India, four or five years ago. He came into a lot of money, you see.' + +'And Captain Knowlton was your guardian?' he asked, fixing his eyeglass. + +'Not exactly an ordinary guardian,' I explained. 'My father was a +soldier too, and Captain Knowlton said he saved his life, and that was +why he looked after me.' + +After I had told him all about Mr. Parsons, he rose and went to the room +where I had first seen him, calling me to follow. I shut the door when +Mrs. Westlake had entered, and Mr. Westlake stood lighting a cigar. + +'Upon my word,' he said, in his slightly drawling voice, 'there seems to +be only one thing that is possible to be done with you for the present, +Everard.' + +'What is that?' I asked, with considerable misgiving. + +'Naturally,' he continued, 'I shall write to Major Ruston and explain +the exact circumstances in which Mrs. Westlake found you, and I have no +doubt that when he hears what I shall tell him, he will make some sort +of arrangement for your future.' + +'But it will take a long time to get an answer.' + +'No doubt, but you seem to be placed in a very awkward position. As far +as I can understand, Captain Knowlton had every intention of looking +after you if he had lived----' + +'Oh, yes!' I cried, 'because he told me I was to go to Sandhurst.' + +'But, you see,' he said, 'he did not make a will. Is that right?' + +'Yes,' I answered. 'Mr. Turton found out the address of his solicitor, +and told me there was no will.' + +'So that, except your aunt in India,' he continued, 'there appears to be +no one upon whom you have the least claim. Yet, Mr. Turton----' + +'I don't want to go back to Mr. Turton,' I cried, taking a step towards +him. + +He took his cigar from his lips, and stood gazing for a few seconds at +the ash, which he then knocked off into the fender. + +'That is all very well,' he said. 'I suppose no boy who ran away from +school ever felt any strong desire to return. But I understand that you +admit that Mr. Turton tried to find you--that, in fact, he would have +found you if Jacintha had acted as she ought to have done.' + +'I don't want to get Jacintha into a row,' I exclaimed, and the +slightest of smiles lighted his face. + +'I am certain you don't,' he answered, 'and you need not trouble +yourself on that score. But as Mr. Turton tried to find you, it is +pretty clear that he wished to take you back with him. Now, if he +wished to take you back, he could not have had any strong objection to +keeping you. You don't complain that he treated you brutally?' + +'No,' I said, 'I never saw him give any fellow a licking; but, +still----' + +'Anyhow,' Mr. Westlake continued, 'I have decided to write to Major +Ruston, and tell him all the circumstances, offering to do anything on +your behalf which he wishes; then I shall take a train to Castlemore the +first thing to-morrow morning and have a chat with Mr. Turton.' + +'I wish you wouldn't,' I exclaimed. + +'That is what I feel compelled to do,' he said, 'and what I hope will +happen is this. I hope that Mr. Turton will take you back and promise me +to treat you well until there's time to get an answer from Madras. If +that answer is unfavourable, though it is not in the least likely to be, +I shall see Mr. Turton again. In any case, we must have no more +wanderings. There has been enough of that. Supposing that Major Ruston +cannot do anything, and Mr. Turton declines to keep you, we must make +the best of a bad job. No doubt I can find you employment in a firm with +which I am connected, and you ought to have sense enough to see that +this is the very best thing to be done in the circumstances.' + +'Couldn't you find me work at once, and not tell Mr. Turton?' I +suggested eagerly, while Mrs. Westlake fixed her eyes on his face. But +he slowly shook his head. + +'Understand,' he said, 'I don't intend to lose sight of you again. At +the worst, you will have to work for your living; but, in the meantime,' +he added, 'I am going to put you on your honour. You must give me your +word not to attempt to leave the house alone until my return.' + +Of course I gave my word, but I felt that my last hope had gone. All +that I had done, all that I had passed through, had been to no purpose. +I might as well--far better--have stayed at Castlemore, since there +seemed little doubt that I should be taken back to Ascot House +to-morrow. I could imagine Augustus's triumphant snigger, and all the +humiliation of the return. + +'I should not be surprised,' said Jacintha, later in the afternoon, 'if +Mr. Turton refused to take you back, and if he does,' she exclaimed, +'Father is going to see whether Mr. Windlesham will have you until he +hears from Major Ruston.' + +'I should not mind that,' I answered. 'I shall not mind anything if I +don't go back to Mr. Turton's.' + +I went to bed early that night, and slept perfectly until one of the +maids knocked at my door the next morning. But when--as soon as we had +finished breakfast--Mr. Westlake was driven away from the door in a +hansom, I felt that my own departure might be only a matter of a few +hours. During the morning Mrs. Westlake took me out for a drive with +Jacintha, but try as I might it was impossible to show them a cheerful +face, and while I understood that Mr. Westlake was doing what he +considered the best for me, it seemed difficult not to regard him as an +enemy. That afternoon I sat in the dining-room, unable to attempt to +make my escape because of the promise which I had given Mr. Westlake, +yet feeling that there were few things I would not endure rather than +eat humble pie and go back to Mr. Turton. + +Four o'clock had struck, and Mr. Westlake might arrive at almost any +moment with the news of my fate. + +'Do you think,' suggested Jacintha, 'that Father will bring Mr. Turton +with him?' + +'I should not be a scrap surprised,' I answered, dismally. 'Then I shall +sleep at Ascot House to-night.' + +'Mind you write,' she exclaimed, 'and tell me everything that horrid +Augustus says, and all about things.' + +A little later, as the clock struck half-past four, Mrs. Westlake +entered the room. + +'I think Mr. Westlake must have missed the train which he expected to +catch,' she said. 'The next will not bring him home until about +half-past six.' + +'We were wondering whether Father would bring Mr. Turton with him!' +cried Jacintha. + +Mrs. Westlake came to my side, resting a hand on my shoulder. 'You +know,' she said, gently, 'that at the very worst you will only stay at +Castlemore until we hear from Mrs. Ruston.' + +But, for some reason, I placed very little confidence in Aunt Marion, +who, I felt certain, had entirely washed her hands of me before her +marriage. Presently Jacintha suggested that we should go to another room +where there was a chess-table, but it was impossible to fix my thoughts +on the game, and she checkmated me twice in ten minutes. + +'It's no good,' I exclaimed. 'I can't think of anything but Mr. Turton.' + +When the clock on the mantelpiece struck six, I rose from my chair and +began to fidget about the room, looking every few minutes to see how the +time was passing. + +'I think I heard a cab or something stop at the door!' cried Jacintha +presently. + +'So did I!' I muttered. + +'I wish I knew whether Mr. Turton had come,' she said. + +'Can't you find out?' I suggested. + +'Perhaps I can see from the hall,' she answered, and as the front door +bell rang again she left me alone in the room. + +A few seconds later she hastily re-entered. + +'There _are_ two!' she cried, excitedly. + +'Is one of them Mr. Turton?' I demanded. + +'I could not see distinctly through the glass door,' she said. 'Only I +am quite positive there are two.' + +As she spoke, and I gave myself up for lost, the butler hastened past +the open door of the room in the act of thrusting his left arm into his +sleeve. The bell was rung a second time. + +'Do have another look!' I urged, and once more Jacintha darted out of +the room, while I felt, for my own part, as if my feet were riveted to +one particular part of the carpet. + +'It isn't Mr. Turton,' she exclaimed, returning the next instant, and +this was at least a reprieve. + +'Perhaps he wouldn't have me back after all,' I answered, and then I +felt suddenly cold from head to foot, for the voice of Mr. Westlake's +companion sounded remarkably like one which I had never hoped to hear +again. Unable to restrain myself, I ran out to the hall, and there stood +Captain Knowlton giving his hat and stick to the butler. + +'Ah, Jack!' he said, with one of his casual nods; and he took my hand as +if he had parted with me yesterday, and had been expected back as a +matter of course to-day. But I began to laugh and cry by turns, clinging +to his hand as if I were fully determined never to let him go again. + +(_Continued on page 187._) + + + + +A SPARROW'S COOLNESS. + + +Our commonest bird is the sparrow, that plucky, impudent, little +creature which hops about in our gardens and yards, and twitters upon +our roofs all day long. It seems rather difficult at first to understand +why it should be so much more common than other birds. It is not large +or strong, or swift on the wing, and it seems to have none of those +advantages which would help it to defend itself against enemies. It is +not handsome, and it is not a sweet songster, so that man is not +disposed to give it much protection. He is often prompted to destroy it, +because of the injury which it does to his gardens and his crops. + +But in spite of all its difficulties, the sparrow thrives, and brings up +a numerous family, because it has less fear of man than other birds +have. It frequents the haunts of men, while other birds are scared away +from them. It requires some courage to brave the noise and tumult of a +town, but the sparrow possesses this courage, and is rewarded +accordingly. As other birds are too timid to trust themselves to a life +among houses and streets, the sparrow needs no protection from them. + +Ordinary as the sparrow is in almost every respect, we cannot but admire +its courage and its wariness. It is surrounded by many dangers, and it +is not only surprising how it braves them, but also how watchfully it +looks out for them, and how cleverly it learns to avoid them. We all +know how it watches the cats and the dogs, and even a man with a gun, +and seeks a place of safety at the first sign of danger. + +One of the newspapers recently gave a very striking instance of a +sparrow's confidence and coolness. A passenger who was waiting for a +train in one of the Underground Railway stations observed a sparrow +hopping upon the rails in search of crumbs. A train came into the +station from the direction in which the passenger wished to travel, and +he had leisure to watch the sparrow. It allowed the engine to come +within a few feet of it, and then, instead of flying away, it quickly +hopped off the rail upon which it stood, and hopped into the space +between the rails. There it lay until the train puffed out of the +station, when it jumped upon the rails again, and resumed its search for +crumbs. Presently another train entered the station, and the sparrow was +seen to repeat its previous action, and to take refuge once more between +the wheels of the train. + +W. A. ATKINSON. + +[Illustration: "It hopped into the space between the rails."] + +[Illustration: "The woodpecker fled in fear."] + + + + +THE INTRUDING SQUIRREL. + + +The squirrel in the woods is as full of frolic and play as a kitten. One +would think that it had not a care or anxiety of any kind to break in +upon its play. And yet it has food to find, a family to bring up, a +winter nest to make, and several stores of food to lay up ready for +those occasional days when it wakes up from its long winter's sleep. + +This winter sleep of the squirrel, and some other animals, is something +very strange, which we do not thoroughly understand. With the first +touch of winter's cold, they curl themselves up, and fall into a sleep +which lasts until the return of spring. This sleep, or hibernation as it +is properly called, is a very useful habit for the animals which are +subject to it, because it enables them to live on at a time when their +food is very often scarce. During this sleep their bodies scarcely waste +away at all, and a few good meals, when they wake, soon put them right; +whereas, if they were always running about, they would be almost +incessantly hungry, and would probably die of starvation during the +winter. + +Some animals remain torpid throughout the winter, while others wake up +occasionally, and enjoy a day's life every now and then in the midst of +their long sleep. The common squirrel is one of the latter. Whenever +there is a warm, mild day in winter, it wakes up, feeling very hungry, +and turns out of its nest for a run. If it trusted to chance for a meal, +it would have to return to its nest hungry. But during the autumn it has +gathered large quantities of hazel-nuts, acorns, beech-nuts, and +fir-cones, and has stored them away in various holes near its nest. +When, therefore, it has enjoyed one of its winter runs, it visits one of +these store-houses, makes a hearty meal, and then returns to its nest to +sleep for a few more days, or a few more weeks, until another warm day +comes round. + +The squirrel selects for his storehouses various holes in the trunk of +the tree near his nest, which are often the deserted nests of some +wood-pecker. Indeed, he is not always content to wait until the +wood-pecker deserts her nest, especially as he relishes the taste of an +egg. A writer in the _Standard_ describes how he saw a wood-pecker +turned out of her house to make room for an impudent squirrel. The +squirrel, descending backwards down a tree-trunk, suddenly found his +hind legs in a hole. Probably he felt something sharp pecking at them, +for he drew them out quickly, and rapidly climbed to a branch +immediately above. A moment later a wood-pecker flew out of the hole. +The squirrel watched her out of sight, and then returned to the nest, +and helped himself to an egg or two, which he carried up to his perch, +and ate. + +When these were disposed of, he descended once more to the wood-pecker's +nest and waited for the return of the bird. The moment she appeared at +the entrance to her nest, the squirrel flew at her like an angry cat. +The startled wood-pecker fled in fear, and the squirrel came forth +triumphantly and went away for a short time. Whilst he was away the +wood-pecker came again and looked into her nest. Something, however, +probably a broken egg, displeased her, and she flew away again. Shortly +afterwards her mate looked into the nest, but he, too, was dissatisfied, +and flew away. Many times they returned to the nest, but always with the +same result. At length they seemed to make up their minds that they +could never make their home in that nest again, and they flew away to +another part of the wood. The squirrel promptly took possession of the +deserted nest, and when autumn came he turned it into a store-house for +nuts. + +W. A. ATKINSON. + + + + +THE GREAT PICTURE BOOK. + + + The world's a pleasant picture-book, + Wherein my eyes may daily look, + And see the things set there to please: + Mountains and valleys, rocks and trees. + + Soft rivers where the sunbeams play; + The blue sky spread far, far away; + Bright flowers that blossom at my feet, + The tender grass, the ripened wheat. + + Though I am young, I may grow wise + When on this book I turn my eyes, + And, as I look, with reverence see + The pictures painted there for me. + + 'Tis God Who made this book so fair, + Who gave the colours that are there; + Who paints the daisies red and white, + And in the sky sets stars at night. + +FRANK ELLIS. + + + + +THE STORY OF SLATE. + + +Slates are not so much used in our schools as they were years ago, +exercise-books being cheaper now. Still, there are some schools where +the children have slates, and pocket-books are to be bought, containing +a slate tablet, on which you can write notes, and rub them out +afterwards to make fresh ones. Slates upon the roofs of houses are +objects familiar to us all. Probably few, young or old, who have to do +with slates, ever think what this substance is, and where it has come +from. Yet slate is one of the most wonderful things in this world of +ours. + +Supposing the first question put to us was, 'What is slate?' our answer +would be, 'It is simply a sort of dried mud.' If the second was, 'What +is its place amongst the rocks of our earth?' we should say, 'Slate +belongs to the Cambrian formation.' This is a big series of rocks, +sometimes eighteen thousand feet thick. It contains in the middle what +geologists call _flags_ and _grits_, but the larger part of it is +slates. There is but one series of rocks more ancient than the Cambrian, +and that is the one called the Laurentian, which is said not to be found +in Britain. + +'Cambrian,' some might say: there is a reason for that name, which of +course is only another word for Welsh. Though, in their first order, +these slaty rocks lie deep down, they have been lifted high up, and they +show us some of the grandest scenery we have in this island. The hills +and precipices of Wales, and the hollows where the mountain streams +flow, tell of the shakings and twistings that the Cambrian rocks have +gone through. Amongst them grow ferns and rare flowers, while many a +tourist draws in new strength as he mounts them. Sometimes, high up, the +rains and winds have made the rocks so bare that even mosses cannot live +upon them, and in the clear sunlight the slates appear of various +shades, from pink to deep blue. + +One curious thing about slate is that the layers are often twisted or +wrinkled. This has been caused, partly at least, by their being thrust +up when half hardened, so as to cause a sort of fold or crease. This was +chiefly done by the still harder granite. + +It is wonderful to think of the succession of plants and animals that +slate has had to do with; it was in existence when the coal forests were +forming, and it must have been trodden by the strange creatures of other +strata, which are now extinct, but of which relics are dug up. Another +remarkable fact is that the slate-beds have had wonderful ups and downs +over and over again during the earth's changes--being at one time under +a deep sea, at another lifted to form hills, as we frequently see them +now. + + + + +FROST-BITTEN IN THE RED SEA. + + +A strange accident happened a few years ago on board a large steamer in +the Red Sea. + +One of the assistant-stewards had occasion to go to the ship's ice-room +to fetch something which had been forgotten when the day's provisions +were given out in the morning. + +The man was not missed for some time, and, when search was made, the +poor fellow was found nearly frozen to death. Some one had thoughtlessly +slammed the door of the refrigerator, which could only be opened from +the outside. + +The prisoner had a terrible experience, and after doing what he could to +attract attention, had sunk exhausted on the floor. + +Fortunately, the head steward noticed that the key of the ice-room was +missing, and this led to the man's discovery. If he had not been found +till the following day, he would probably have been the first man to be +frozen to death in one of the hottest parts of the world. + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Continued from page 183._) + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +With the return of Captain Knowlton the story seems to come to its +natural end; but, although he had heard from Mr. Westlake all about my +own adventures, there still remained, of course, a great deal to +discuss. + +When he was presented to Mrs. Westlake, she insisted that we should both +dine in Grosvenor Gardens, and as it was difficult to refuse anything to +one who had shown me such kindness, Captain Knowlton apologised for his +travelling clothes and consented. Presently, when we were all sitting +down together, Mrs. Westlake begged for Captain Knowlton's story. He +leaned back in his arm-chair, beginning in an easy, conversational tone, +as if he were telling us about a walk from one part of London to +another. + +'It was April when I left the Solent in the _Seagull_,' he said, 'making +for Gibraltar, where I picked up two or three men of my old regiment, +and cruised for a week or two in the Mediterranean. Early in May I +sailed for Madeira, touched at the Canaries, then steamed south, crossed +the line, and in due course reached Capetown. There the man who was to +have accompanied me for the whole trip found a telegram to the effect +that his father lay seriously ill in Vienna, so that I had to continue +the voyage without him. A few days out from Capetown we got into very +bad weather, which grew worse and worse until, in the middle of the +roughest night I ever experienced, we were run down by a huge liner, +which brutally went on her way, leaving us to our fate. The skipper +wanted to be the last to leave the _Seagull_, but I sent him off with +seven or eight of the crew, and, before the rest could get away, the +ship went down under us. I found myself in the water, one moment lifted +high on the crest of an enormous wave, the next sunk in the trough. I +gave myself up for lost, when something was washed against my arm, and +seizing it, to my great good fortune, I found that it was one of our +life-rafts, which had served as a seat on the _Seagull's_ deck. + +'The night was the blackest you can imagine; from the moment the ship +foundered I saw nothing either of the boat's crew or of the men who had +been left with me. For what seemed an endless time I clung to my raft, +and I imagine that the tide must have carried me some distance from the +scene of the wreck. As the night wore on--it seemed as if it would never +pass--I grew weaker and weaker, but presently the sky became lighter, +and just as I was telling myself that I might as well let go of the raft +and bring things to an end, I saw a small schooner close by. After half +an hour of terrible suspense, I began to think she was bearing down upon +me, and, with such strength as I had left, I shouted. At last, thank +Heaven, I succeeded in attracting attention; a line was thrown, and +after some little trouble, more dead than alive, I was hauled on board. + +'The schooner was a Spaniard bound for Valparaiso, but she had lost two +men--washed overboard in the storm--and been a good deal knocked about. +In fact, I began to think that my end had only been postponed for a few +hours. She had sprung a leak, the water seemed to be gaining, and after +a short rest I took my turn at the pumps with the crew. However, we rode +out the storm, and then, two or three days later, we lay becalmed for +three weeks. She was, at the best, the slowest craft I have ever seen, +and everything seemed to be dead against her. We were many miles out of +our course, the stock of provisions--such as it was--and of water ran +short, and although the captain seemed very little dissatisfied, I grew +more and more hopeless. + +'Naturally,' said Captain Knowlton, with a glance in my direction, 'I +thought a good deal of Everard. I knew that there was no one but myself +to provide for him, and that in any case I should be given up for lost. +Even if (as happily proved to be the case) our skipper succeeded in +getting to land, he would be certain to report all the crew that were +not in his boat as drowned--as, in fact, they all were except myself. I +fumed and fretted to reach land, but that was all I could do, and when +at last we got to Valparaiso, I lost no time in sending Mr. Windlesham a +telegram.' + +(_Concluded on page 194._) + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure in the North Sea and in China. + +By H. C. MOORE, Author of 'Britons at Bay,' &c. + +CHAPTER I. + + +'I want a North Sea fisherman's outfit.' + +'Yes, sir,' the Grimsby shopkeeper answered cheerfully, suspecting that +his young, gentlemanly-looking customer required the things for a +fancy-dress entertainment or theatricals. In two or three minutes he had +produced for inspection a jersey, thick trousers--commonly called +'fear-noughts'--heavy top-boots, and a set of oilskins. + +'I will try them on,' the lad said, and, retiring behind a screen, +changed his clothes. Then he looked round for a glass, anxious to +satisfy himself that he had the appearance of a North Sea fisherman. The +shopkeeper, unasked, assured him that he had, and, as there was no one +else there who could be consulted, the youth purchased the outfit. + +'Do my other things up in a parcel,' he said to the shopkeeper. 'I will +keep these on.' + +'But it's raining hard, sir,' the man exclaimed, not believing that his +customer wanted the clothes for real use. + +'I don't mind that at all. I want a little of the newness rubbed off. +Now I come to think of it, I might just as well have had a second-hand +outfit.' + +The shopkeeper rustled the brown paper, and pretended that he had not +heard what was said. + +'May I send it home?' he asked when he had made a neat parcel of the +suit, cap, and boots which the boy had taken off. + +'Yes. I will write the address.' + +When the bill had been paid, the lad stepped out into the dirty Grimsby +street, and strode off in the direction of the docks. + +The clothes _were_ meant for use after all. Charlie Page--for that was +the lad's name--was not going to a fancy-dress ball, but had purchased +his fisherman's outfit because, on the following morning, he was to +begin work as a deck hand on board the steam trawler, _Sparrow-hawk_. + +How it came about that he was bound for the Dogger Bank needs +explanation. His father was a prosperous Lincolnshire man who had built +up a large export business, which was now about to be converted into a +limited liability company. Mr. Page was to become managing director of +the new company, but, unfortunately, he could find no suitable position +in the concern for his son Charlie. He determined, therefore, to +purchase, with a portion of the money which he would receive from the +company, a new business for his son. + +He had heard that there were three Grimsby steam trawlers for sale, and +entered into correspondence with the respective owners. The price which +they asked for the trawlers was not high if they really earned what it +was asserted they did, but Mr. Page had a strong suspicion that the +amount of their profits was exaggerated. + +'Shall I go to Grimsby and discover the truth?' Charlie said to his +father one evening rather suddenly. 'I might get a job on one of those +three trawlers and keep a sharp look-out all the while I was aboard her. +I could count the boxes of fish, and get all the information that I +could from the crew.' + +'A good idea, my boy, but do you think that you could carry it out? A +North Sea fisherman's life is a terribly rough one. It would not be a +pleasure trip for you.' + +There was a great deal of discussion before Charlie's daring plan was +finally adopted. Mr. Page was struck by his son's grit and keenness, and +knew, moreover, that the experience would do him good. In his own young +days, before he returned to Lincolnshire and settled down to business, +Mr. Page had spent three eventful years in South America, and although +he had had many decidedly unpleasant adventures, he by no means +regretted them. He was glad, too, to find that his son inherited some of +his love of adventure, especially as it was to be used, in this case, +for a good, sensible purpose. Charlie was only sixteen, but he was big +and strong for his age, and the sea air and hard life would probably do +him good physically as well as morally. + +'I will give you ten pounds,' he said to Charlie on the following +morning, 'and as you are not likely to be away much more than a week, it +will, I think, be ample for your wants.' + +Charlie thanked him heartily, and an hour or two later started for +Grimsby. He knew the town well, and making his way to the docks, had +little difficulty in finding where the _Sparrow-hawk_ lay. She was +coaling when he discovered her, and knowing that all hands would be +busy, he sat down on the black scaffold-like dock and watched from a +distance as truck after truck was tilted over, sending its load of coal +into the shoot, down which it ran with a rattle on to the ship's deck. +The trawler's men, black as niggers, shovelled the coal quickly into the +hold. Fortunately the greater portion of the load had been taken aboard +before Charlie arrived, and after waiting for about half an hour, he saw +the last truck-load shot down. He knew then that in about an hour's time +some of the _Sparrow-hawk's_ men would be coming ashore. He watched them +with interest as, having shovelled all the coal into the hold, they +turned the hose on the deck, and with brooms and swabs worked hard to +remove the coal-dust which coated everything. When this task was +finished, the men gathered around two buckets and washed themselves. +They needed washing badly. + +[Illustration: "'I will keep these on,' he said to the shopkeeper."] + +The first two men who came ashore had friends waiting for them, so that +Charlie had no opportunity of speaking to them. The third man to come +ashore had no one waiting for him. He was a short, bow-legged little +man, with a goatee beard and a small brass ring in the lobe of each ear. +Charlie spoke to him. + +'Thank you, sir,' the man answered, as he took the tobacco which Charlie +offered. 'Smoking is not allowed here, so I will save it till I get +outside the gates.' + +'Are you a Grimsby man?' Charlie asked. + +'No fear. I come from Gorleston. If this was Yarmouth I should be able +to enjoy myself at home, but as it's Grimsby I don't expect to have much +of an evening.' + +Charlie felt that he had come across the very man he wanted. + +'Come to my hotel and have a chat,' he suggested. 'I want some +information about North Sea fishermen.' + +'Certainly, sir. Are you a journalist?' + +The bow-legged fisherman had a great respect for journalists, having on +one occasion received from a newspaper representative a good big 'tip' +for describing how a trawler worked. + +Charlie could not, however, by the greatest stretch of imagination, call +himself a journalist, and so he ignored the question put to him. The +fisherman put his silence down to modesty. + +The hotel at which Charlie had taken a room was close to the docks, and, +therefore, the manager and waiters were not horrified, as they would +have been at a London hotel, at seeing a rough fisherman brought into +the building. + +After Charlie had seen that the man had some food, they went to his +sitting-room. + +'I'm happy now, sir,' the fisherman declared, having lighted a pipe and +thrown himself back into a roomy chair. + +For a few minutes there was silence. Then Charlie said, 'I should very +much like to make a trip to the North Sea on a steam trawler.' + +'I should not advise you to do so, sir. A trawler is no place for a +gentleman.' + +'Nevertheless, I mean to go out in one.' + +'Ah! I see your game, sir. You have heard what a rough time we fellows +have in the North Sea, and you have come down here to get information, +and then put it in a London newspaper. But it's no good, sir. There's no +skipper in the North Sea who wouldn't guess what you were up to, and +make some excuse for not taking you aboard his ship. You must give up +the idea, sir.' + +'I mean to get a job on a trawler, and go to sea as an ordinary +fisherman. Then I shall be able to obtain, from personal observation, +all the information I want.' + +The bow-legged fisherman sat up in his chair deeply interested. + +'That's a splendid idea, sir,' he declared, 'and I only wish you could +get a job on the _Sparrow-hawk_, for you would see enough on that +trawler to make you write till you wore out your pen. The skipper is an +old villain, and that crafty too----' + +The bow-legged fisherman did not finish his speech, but nodded his head, +and raised his hands in horror, as if words were too weak to express the +real character of the skipper. Naturally, Charlie became more anxious +than ever to make a trip on the _Sparrow-hawk_. + +'Can't I get a job on her?' he asked. + +'No, sir. All the same hands are taken on for the next trip.' + +'Couldn't I bribe one of them to stay away, and let me go aboard in his +place?' + +'Pretending that you are he?' + +'Yes.' + +''Course you could. Take my place, sir.' + +'I am afraid that is not possible,' Charlie remarked, thinking of the +fisherman's bow legs and goatee beard. + +'Why not? It isn't hard to pretend you are bandy-legged. Lots of boys +pretend they are bandy-legged when they see me coming.' + +'It would be rather tiring to have to continue the pretence for two or +three weeks. Moreover, I haven't a beard.' + +'You could say you had shaved it off.' + +'That would mean that I should have to shave nothing every morning, just +to keep up the deception. If I didn't, the crew would wonder why my +beard didn't grow. But, joking apart, I am very anxious to make a trip +in the _Sparrow-hawk_, and if you, at the last moment, will pretend that +you are too ill to go aboard, and will send me as a substitute, I will +pay you your wages, and give you a present as well.' + +'I agree, sir,' the fisherman declared, promptly. + +'When does the _Sparrow-hawk_ sail?' Charlie asked. + +'In two days' time.' + +'Then I must buy my outfit to-morrow. Where shall I meet you to-morrow +afternoon?' + +'At the Fishermen's Home, sir.' + +'Very well. I will be there at four o'clock, and here is +half-a-sovereign for you, to show that I am in earnest.' + +'Thank you, sir,' the fisherman exclaimed, and departed, more than ever +convinced that journalists were the most generous fellows in the world. + +(_Continued on page 198._) + + + + +CRUISERS IN THE CLOUDS. + +V.--THE FIRST ASCENT IN ENGLAND. + + +Though the English people, on the whole, disbelieved the tales they +heard of the French balloonists, they became very interested when a +certain young Italian, named Vincent Lunardi (Secretary to the Naples +Ambassador), gave out that he was willing to build a balloon and make a +voyage in it. Those devoted to science contributed willingly to the +expenses, and large crowds paid to be allowed to see the balloon while +it was being made. When nearly complete, it was exhibited in the Lyceum, +and the arrangements made with the proprietor of that building very +nearly led to disaster. He proved to be a greedy, dishonest man, and +when Lunardi wished to move the balloon to where the ascent was to be +made, he refused to let it go unless he was paid half of all Lunardi +secured by the venture, and a large share in any profits that might be +made on future occasions. Here was a difficulty Lunardi had not +expected, and it came with many others equally unlooked for. When +Lunardi first made the proposal, he had got leave from the Governors of +Chelsea Hospital to ascend from their spacious grounds; but, while the +balloon was being made, a certain Frenchman had set up in opposition, +and announced that he would give a display immediately. This promise he +failed to keep, and the disappointed sightseers paid him back by +breaking up his machinery. The idea of such a thing being repeated +terrified the Governors of Chelsea Hospital, and they requested Lunardi +to go elsewhere. He had just got over this trouble by being promised the +ground of the Honourable Artillery Company, when the proprietor of the +Lyceum refused to release the balloon. The Artillery Company, thinking +themselves the victims of a fraud, ordered the apparatus, which had been +sent to them, to to be thrown off the ground unless Lunardi found +securities in five hundred pounds to cover any injuries their premises +might suffer at the hands of the mob. But the proprietor of the Lyceum +had overreached himself, and when the matter was explained he was +compelled to give up the balloon, which was forthwith taken to the +artillery grounds under a special guard. + +Two days later the scene of action was thronged by a noisy crowd, and +Lunardi has spoken of the dread he felt lest anything should happen to +delay the ascent. While the balloon was being filled, he viewed the +assembly from the upper storey of the Artillery House. Windows, roofs, +and scaffoldings were crammed, while in the large square below, the +people were so closely packed that it 'looked like a pavement of human +heads.' And they were by no means orderly, for most had come with the +idea that they were to be deceived. The arrival of the Prince of Wales, +however, put them in a better humour, and in less than two hours after +the appointed time, Vincent Lunardi carried out his promise. He would +not risk a longer delay. Though the balloon was only two-thirds full of +gas, and he had to disappoint a friend who had arranged to sail with +him, he gave the signal and weighed anchor. + +The grumblings of the fickle crowd turned to roars of applause, as the +balloon rose slowly over the house-tops. The noisiest and the roughest +there forgot the jests they had made at Lunardi's expense. And Vincent +Lunardi forgot them, too, for his worry was over, and his long labour +rewarded. + +He had made his balloon without any valve at the top, and in order to +descend, had fitted it with long oars, shaped like lacrosse sticks. +These he now began to work in order that the vast crowds, who had not +been near enough to see him embark, might know that he was in the car. +But scarcely had he placed his hands upon them, when one of the oars +snapped off, and returned to the earth. It was instantly broken into +fragments by the crowd, the pieces being kept as relics by those who +were fortunate enough to secure them. + +Lunardi then gave himself up to the enjoyment of his voyage, and watched +the great city spread beneath him till it became no more than a doll's +town. + +Over the common of North Mimms Lunardi again plied his oars, and landed, +with the assistance of some country folk, in a field called Etna. Here +he released a cat which he had brought from London. It had felt the +coldness of the upper air considerably. A dog and some pigeons had also +accompanied him, and with these he continued his journey, finally +landing at Ware. A stone erected on the spot tells, to this day, the +story of his adventure. + +As regards his mention of the oars, it has been pointed out that, since +Lunardi had to throw out ballast when rising the second time from Etna +field, it is hardly likely that his descent was due alone to the working +of the oars. It must have been through loss of gas, and he deceived +himself in thinking otherwise. + +London was delighted at the news of his voyage. George III., who had +broken off an important state conference to peep through his telescope +at the wonderful balloon, afterwards allowed the young Italian to kiss +his hand at a brilliant levee. Military honours were bestowed upon him, +and with fewer obstacles in his way he now made fresh flights. + +But perhaps his greatest triumphs were in Spain, the king of which +country gave him a residence in the royal palace at Madrid. Here, on +January 8th, 1793, he made a grand ascent, taking with him a number of +carrier pigeons. In the car of his balloon he wrote particulars of all +he saw, with as much ease as he would have done in his study. Carefully +folding the manuscript, he sent it on by one of the pigeons to the +governor of Madrid. It was the first time that the world had ever known +of a post-office in the sky, but, for all that, the letter was delivered +as promptly as any one could wish. + +Lunardi's cruises in the clouds were sometimes attended by great danger, +particularly one he made in Portugal, on August 24th, 1794. It was a +windy day, and when, on nearing the earth, he threw out the anchor, the +rope snapped as it caught against a tree. The balloon rose to a height +of three miles, and fearing that he would be blown out to sea, Lunardi +pulled the valve-rope. Unfortunately this broke too, but enough gas +escaped to cause the balloon to descend rapidly. A quarter of an hour +later the car struck the ground with great violence, and a sack, +weighing twenty pounds, was jolted out. Relieved of this weight it rose +again, but less powerfully, and Lunardi found himself, a little later, +being dragged and bumped along the ground at a great pace. Some ignorant +peasants, terrified by the balloon, ran for their guns, and the poor +aeronaut was treated to a shower of bullets. Fortunately, the speed soon +carried him out of range; then, seizing an opportunity, he leapt from +the car, among a tumbling mass of ballast and scientific instruments. +When he found his feet, it was to see the balloon sailing at a great +height towards the sea, and a few minutes later it disappeared from his +sight for ever. + +JOHN LEA. + +[Illustration: The First Post-office in the Sky.] + +[Illustration: ALL HANDS TO THE PUMP.] + +[Illustration: "We were driven away from that truly hospitable house."] + + + + +THE BOY TRAMP. + +(_Concluded from page 188._) + + +'There was nothing more to be done,' continued Captain Knowlton, 'till I +reached England. Of course I had no idea that Mr. Turton had taken Mr. +Windlesham's place at Ascot House. I reached Southampton yesterday, +travelled direct from there to Castlemore without touching London, and +saw Mr. Turton. It appears that he opened my telegram the day after you +ran away, Everard. By-the-bye,' demanded Captain Knowlton, 'I should +like to hear just why you did run away?' + +'When they thought you were dead,' I answered, 'and that my school bill +would not be paid, and I should be left on their hands, they began to +treat me as if I were a servant. I did not believe I should ever see you +again; I knew I wasn't wanted there; I--I couldn't stand it, and I ran +away.' + +'Well,' continued Captain Knowlton, 'Mr. Turton didn't seem to know +exactly what to say for himself. He explained, however, that he had paid +Mr. Windlesham a long price for the goodwill of the school, and that he +reckoned you as one of the most profitable pupils. He could ill afford +the loss of your account, to say nothing of your being left on his hands +to lodge and feed. Yet he assured me he had no intention to turn you +out, although he saw no harm, in all the circumstances, in making you +useful.' + +'Still,' I exclaimed, 'he need not have made me black Augustus's boots.' + +'That,' said Mr. Westlake, 'was evidently the last straw.' + +I noticed that Jacintha watched Captain Knowlton's face with some +anxiety, thinking, perhaps, that he would show signs of displeasure at +my flight. + +'Mr. Turton admits,' he continued, 'that since you had taken the law +into your own hands, he made no effort to overtake you until the arrival +of my telegram. Then, imagining you had turned towards London, he took +the train to various towns on the way, and no doubt did his utmost to +find you.' + +'Oh!' cried Jacintha, abruptly. + +'Well,' asked Mr. Westlake, 'what is it?' + +'If I had told Mr. Turton where Everard was hiding,' she said, 'he would +have explained that Captain Knowlton was alive, and everything would +have been all right!' + +'All's well that ends well!' remarked Captain Knowlton. + +'Everard did not think it would end well the day before yesterday,' +cried Jacintha. + +'The night is often the darkest just before dawn,' said her mother; but +for my own part I kept silent, for, looking back only a few days, and +recollecting what had been the outlook, I felt afraid of making an idiot +of myself if I ventured to open my lips. + +'I gave Mr. Turton a cheque,' said Captain Knowlton, 'and I am afraid I +lost my temper. I saw the real state of affairs, and reckoned him up so +candidly that we did not part very good friends.' + +'You certainly made an impression on him,' cried Mr. Westlake. 'He began +a long rigmarole when I explained my business this morning, but the main +point of it was that you had turned up and addressed him in language +which he really could not describe as polite.' + +'No,' admitted Captain Knowlton, gazing at the tip of his cigar, 'I am +afraid he really couldn't.' + +'He gave me the name of your hotel,' Mr. Westlake continued, 'and, +taking the next train to London, I was driven at once to Northumberland +Avenue, where luckily I found you at home.' + +'I had just come back from an interview with my lawyer,' said Captain +Knowlton. 'Of course, I was very anxious to discover what had become of +this youngster, and, in fact,' he added, 'a private detective is already +looking for him, and to-morrow morning he will see himself advertised +for in every London newspaper.' + +'A day after the fair!' cried Mrs. Westlake. + +'And that,' said her husband, 'is about the end of the tale.' + +'Not quite,' answered Captain Knowlton, rising from his arm-chair. 'The +most important thing remains to be done, and the most difficult.' + +'That is all right, Knowlton,' said Mr. Westlake. + +But Captain Knowlton paid no attention. 'I should very much like to +know,' he said, 'how to thank you kind people for all you have done.' + +'Remember,' suggested Mrs. Westlake, 'that if Jacintha had acted +properly, the worst troubles would have been avoided.' + +'In my opinion,' said Captain Knowlton, 'Jacintha is a brick. I +understand,' he continued, 'that you would rather not be thanked. All +the same I shall never forget your kindness, and I hope Everard will not +either.' + +'No--no fear,' I muttered as I rose, trying to smile, and failing in the +most lamentable manner. But there seemed to be a general desire to treat +the affair lightly; we shook hands all round, the butler whistled for a +hansom, and appeared pleased with the tip which Captain Knowlton pressed +into his hand. So we were driven away from that truly hospitable house, +and that night I slept in a comfortable room at a great hotel in +Northumberland Avenue; the next morning being given up to various visits +to the tailor's, the hatter's, the hosier's, and so forth. After +luncheon, Captain Knowlton took me to his room and insisted that I +should once more relate my adventures from beginning to end; and, when +this was reached, we set out for New Scotland Yard, where in a private +room I was called upon to tell all I knew about Mr. Parsons and his +companions in the presence of an officer in plain clothes. + +When I had finished, Captain Knowlton begged the police officer, if +possible, to dispense with my appearance as a witness. A few days later +we heard that Parsons, Loveridge, and another man had been arrested, +although I believe not at the house where I had passed so many miserable +hours. On investigation, it proved that there was evidence to convict +them without my aid, and although the trial did not take place for some +time, the three men were eventually sentenced to terms of imprisonment +which would prevent them from preying upon the public for many years to +come. + +Captain Knowlton consulted Mr. Westlake about the choice of my next +school, with the result that a few weeks later found me settled at +Richmond with the 'crammer' who was expected to do great things for +Dick. Dick and I soon became the best of chums, and, later on, it +happened that we entered Sandhurst together, and were in due course +gazetted to our respective regiments the same month. + +Shortly afterwards, we sailed for South Africa within a few days of each +other, and there, at Paardeberg, I received an unwelcome Mauser bullet +in my left thigh. While on sick leave at Capetown, waiting until it is +possible to rejoin my regiment at the front, I have passed the time by +writing this account of my adventures; and, now it is finished, it will +shortly be on its way to England, whither, if all go well, I hope, +before very many months have passed, to follow it. + +THE END. + + + + +PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS. + +9.--TRANSPOSITIONS. + + +These are the names of two famous soldiers, sailors, poets, novelists, +and two queens. + + 1. EGLLINNOTW. + 2. ABGHMLOORRU. + 3. ELNNOS. + 4. ABEKL. + 5. AAEEEHKPRSS. + 6. ENNNOSTY. + 7. COSTT. + 8. CDEIKNS. + 9. ABEEHILTZ. +10. ACIIORTV. + +[_Answers on page 230._] + + * * * * * + +ANSWER TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 167. + +8.--1. Cake. + 2. Lake. + 3. Rake. + 4. Sake. + 5. Take. + 6. Wake. + + + + +A CENTRAL AFRICAN CAKE. + + +'Hiplay! lu--lu--lu--lu!'[3] some coal-black natives shouted joyously as +they stood by the shore of Lake Nyasa, and saw across the blue waters +what a European would have taken for water-spouts, or pillars of smoke. + +But the natives knew better! Those great pillars darkening the air were +dense masses of that African delicacy, the Nkungu fly. + +The men hurriedly seized the saucer-shaped baskets which they had with +them, and waved them round their heads till they were full of flies. + +The next thing to do was to crush the flies in their hands, roll them in +leaves, and lay them to roast in the ashes of a wood fire. + +When finished the mass looked rather like coffee-grounds, and tasted +like liquorice. + +This is the only cake a Central African ever makes for himself. English +people would hardly want to rob him of it, but to him it is delicious. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[3] This is the Central African way of shouting 'Hurrah!' + + + + +THE WEATHER SPRITES. + + +LAST NIGHT. + + The Weather Sprites in slumber lie, + 'Tis plain as plain can be, + For clouds have hidden all the sky-- + A mist is on the sea, + They laid the brooms of wind away + Before the day was done, + And left a curtain, dull and grey, + To hide the setting sun. + + 'Wake, Weather Sprites! oh, wake again! + You slumber all too soon, + And, look you, drawn by imps of rain + A ring is round the moon. + With all your might rub out the ring, + Mop all this rain away, + For such a night can only bring + An even duller day.' + + +THIS MORNING. + + Then through the darkness, ere I slept, + I heard them passing by; + Across the roof their brushes swept, + Then cleared the misty sky. + They mopped away with all their might, + And dried the garden soon; + While busy dusters rubbed from sight + The ring around the moon. + + And as I throw the shutter wide, + And look out at the dawn, + The garden paths are neatly dried, + And all the clouds are gone. + But hark, where in the morning light + Yon chestnut lifts its dome, + I hear the last, last Weather Sprite + Dragging her broomstick home. + + + + +WONDERFUL CAVERNS. + +VI.--THE ROCK TEMPLES OF AJUNTA AND ELLORA. + + +On one of India's loneliest glens, called Ajunta, travellers come upon a +perfect settlement of buildings and temples, cut in the face of a +semicircle of cliffs about two hundred and fifty feet high. Over the +cliff leaps a brawling river, making seven distinct falls before +reaching the valley below. + +From a distance only pillared fronts appear, but on a closer view the +real grandeur and beauty of the temples come to light. The inside walls +are covered with paintings, well drawn, and fairly well preserved. The +pictures chiefly illustrate the life of Buddha, and the sacred tree +beneath which he used to sit often appears in them, hung with rich gifts +from his followers. The good works which he did for the poor and +suffering are constantly painted. Other paintings show hunting scenes +and battles, drawn with great vigour and of huge size; others have +pictures of peacocks, elephants, apes, and other animals. + +The architecture of these caves is very fine. We can hardly imagine the +enormous labour of cutting out the deep ribs of the roof, the light +twisted pillars, and elaborate framework for pictures which adorn the +galleries. The marvel is how human hands could have done such work, +especially when we remember that the natives of India, like those of +Egypt, who did great feats in rock architecture, had the smallest and +most delicately-shaped hands of all human races. + +[Illustration: The Rock Temple of Kailus at Ellora.] + +There are thirty-four distinct rock-temples at Ellora, near Aurangabad, +in India. Most of them are of the usual pattern of cave-temples, some +the work of Buddhists, others of a sect called Jains, who are famous for +kindness to animals. The more modern ones are built by Brahmins, and +these are the true marvels of Ellora, though they can hardly be +accounted as cave-temples, being cut bodily out of the rock outside as +well as inside. The way in which these monuments of industry were +probably built was as follows:--The builders first marked off a large +square of the cliff, and outside this square dug a wide deep trench, +leaving an immense mass of stone standing in the centre. Out of this +mass, which may or may not have contained natural caverns, they cut a +magnificent temple, standing on a raised platform, and adorned with +domes, galleries, colossal statues of animals and the richest forms of +ornament. Fancy the patient toil, lasting year after year, even when the +outside was finished, of scooping out the interior, with its great halls +and passages! + +The most wonderful of these temples is called 'Kailus,' and is dedicated +to Siva the Destroyer. It has a great court, in which are ponds, +obelisks, figures of the Sphinx, and other ornaments, whilst in the +middle stands an immense group of elephants. Above these huge creatures, +rows of stately columns, in four tiers, one above the other, support the +actual temple, and the effect is so light that the building seems to be +hung in the air. + +Kailus is the sacred mountain in Thibet, from which flow the four great +rivers of India, and every year thousands of pilgrims toil in solemn +procession round its ice-covered rocks, to bathe in the waters of the +sacred Lake Manseroeur, which lies below. + +HELENA HEATH. + +[Illustration: An Eastern Snake Charmer.] + + + + +EASTERN JUGGLERS. + +Some True Anecdotes of Wonderful Feats. + + +Eastern kings and princes are careful, like those of Western countries, +that those visitors who come to them should have amusements. There is no +difficulty, at any time, in obtaining performers with snakes, for +serpent charmers and trainers are well-known and popular. The +fearlessness these men show is amazing; it has been said, indeed, that +they operate only with harmless snakes, or those deprived of their +fangs, but there seems to be evidence they can manage poisonous reptiles +in good condition for stinging. The charmers probably influence the +snakes in three ways--by music, by fumes arising from substances they +burn in a dish, and also by certain movements of their own bodies. +Sometimes they practise a sort of fortune-telling by snakes, the motion +of the reptile's head towards some object being supposed to give an +answer to a question. + +A show of wild animals, too, often furnishes an entertainment, and +sometimes, after the animals have performed various tricks, or have had +mock fights, there is a second part consisting of conjuring and feats of +agility. A traveller in the East, describing one of these +entertainments, tells us of one Hindoo whom he saw, with very stout arms +but rather thin legs. He was bare to the waist, wearing white trousers +and a smart skull-cap of blue and yellow silk. A slight yet firm ladder +was placed upright; across the top was a strong pole, and at each end of +the pole a stout cord hung down. The ends of the cords were staked to +the ground, so that the apparatus could not give way. Having made a +salaam to the spectators, the Hindoo began his operations. + +Rubbing his hands together, the juggler went to the ladder, and grasping +the first bar above his head, mounted with surprising activity, keeping +his feet motionless about six inches from the frame. Having reached the +top by the help of his hands only, he threw his feet upward, and was +seen resting upon his head with his arms crossed over his chest and his +legs closed. Thus he remained motionless for over a minute. Next, a cord +being flung to him from below, he caught it and drew up an iron ball +about six pounds in weight, enclosed in a netting of twine. Still +remaining upon his head, the Hindoo raised the ball to about three yards +from his hand, and then swung it circularly; after a few whirls he +launched it through the air, sending it a long distance over the heads +of the spectators. His next performance was even more startling. First, +he dexterously laid himself upon his back along the pole on top of the +ladder. Thus balanced, he had six native daggers, with broad, +double-edged blades, thrown to him, and caught each one in turn. Having +got them all, he threw them one by one several yards above his head, +catching them as they fell, and having always four in the air at the +same moment. After a few minutes he let all the daggers drop upon his +body, with the blades uppermost. + +His next feat was, if possible, still more remarkable. An iron rod about +three feet long was stood upright on the pole; upon the top of it he +rested a large, shallow, wooden bowl, holding the rod balanced so +exactly that it kept quite perpendicular. With a sudden jump, the +performer seated himself in this bowl and caught twelve brass balls +thrown up to him. Projecting the whole lot into the air, he kept them +constantly in motion for several minutes, then sprang to his feet and +_stood_ in the bowl with the balls spinning round him. After a few +minutes he jumped upon the pole, letting the balls, the rod, and the +bowl drop to the ground. As a finish, the little man descended the +ladder upon his hands, going head first, and amid shouts of applause +bowed and retired. + +J. R. S. C. + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 190._) + +CHAPTER II. + + +From the clothes shop Charlie went to the Fishermen's Home, where he +found his bow-legged friend. + +'Well,' Charlie said, when they were alone, 'what do you think of my +rig-out?' + +'No good at all, sir,' the fisherman declared. + +'Why not?' Charlie asked, somewhat astonished. + +'Because, when you are cooking, the fewer things you have on the better +you work. When you have a oven each side of you----' + +'Are you a cook, then?' Charlie interrupted. + +'Yes, sir.' + +'Then why did you not tell me so? I can't go aboard the _Sparrow-hawk_ +as a cook, for I have never cooked anything but chestnuts in my life.' + +'That doesn't matter, sir. North Sea fishermen are not very particular. +The great thing to remember is always to serve up a meal at the proper +time. If it isn't done, don't keep them waiting, but let them have it +underdone. Never let your fire go out day or night, and always keep your +kettle boiling.' + +'Do the fellows ever want pudding?' + +'Plum duff three times a week.' + +'I shall have to give up the job, then, for I couldn't make plum duff to +save my life.' + +'That's just what I used to say when I first went as cook aboard ship, +but I had a shot at it, and a nice mess I made of it. But when I came +home from that trip I gave another cook a shilling to teach me how to +make a few fancy things, and now I'm thought as good a cook as any in +the North Sea.' + +'But you know how to make plum duff. I don't.' + +'I will tell you. When I discovered how to make anything, I put the +particulars down in writing in a little book. I will lend you the book.' + +The bow-legged cook put his hand in his pocket and drew out a grimy, +paper-covered note-book. + +'Plum duff comes first,' he said, as he handed the book to Charlie. 'Can +you read it?' + +'There are a few words which I can't quite understand,' Charlie replied, +for the cookery-book was an extraordinary work. The writing was bad, the +spelling was worse, and the abbreviations were confusing. But the cook +went right through the book with him then and there. + +'Now you'll be able to cook anything,' he declared, when they had got to +the end. + +'I'm not so sure of that,' Charlie answered; 'but anyhow, I shall have +some idea of how to set to work. What time to-morrow shall I have to be +aboard?' + +'At six in the morning.' + +'Won't the skipper discover me before we get out of the river?' + +'No. He doesn't often pop his head into the galley. Anyhow, he cannot do +without a cook, and if he does see you, he won't turn you off when he +finds that I am not aboard. I will write a letter to the mate for you to +give him, and perhaps he won't say a word to the skipper about you. +Don't you worry yourself, you will be all right.' + +Charlie slept that night at the Fishermen's Home. He had a clean and +comfortable bed for ninepence, and a good breakfast for a few coppers. +The bow-legged cook met him in the morning outside the Home, and gave +him a letter to the mate. + +'It took me two hours to write,' he declared, 'and when I finished it I +didn't think it was worth while going to sleep. But that doesn't matter; +I shall get plenty of sleep during the next few weeks. I'm going to live +like a gentleman for a time.' + +Charlie smiled, and drew his purse out of his pocket. 'Here is three +pounds,' he said. 'The other three I will give you when I return.' + +'Suppose you don't return, sir? Accidents happen at sea as well as on +land. If you got washed overboard, should I lose my three pounds?' + +'Oh, no. I have written to my father, telling him the agreement I have +made with you, and if I should not return he will pay you the money. +Here is his address.' + +'Thank you, sir, very much,' the cook answered. 'And now, as it's a +quarter to six, you had better hurry off to the _Sparrow-hawk_. Light +the fire and put the kettle on it directly you get aboard. The chaps +will want some tea long before they have their breakfast.' + +'I'll remember,' Charlie promised; 'good-bye.' And with his bundle of +belongings on his shoulder, he hurried off to where the _Sparrow-hawk_ +lay. + +'Where is the mate?' Charlie inquired of a boy who looked at him sharply +as he went aboard the _Sparrow-hawk_. + +'For'ard,' the boy answered. + +Charlie went for'ard, and seeing a man standing with his arms folded, +watching three men who were working hard, concluded rightly that he was +the mate, and handed him the cook's letter. + +'Who is it from?' the mate asked. + +'The cook, sir,' Charlie answered. + +The mate tore open the envelope and glanced at the letter. 'He wrote it +with a toasting-fork, I should think,' the mate declared, after looking +at it for a few moments. 'He says he is ill. At any rate, he has not +turned up. So you're his substitute? Well, take your things below and +get into the galley sharp. I want a mug of tea as soon as possible.' + +Charlie went down into the foc's'le--a small, dark, stifling place where +eight men slept. The thought of having to spend his nights in that +dirty, close den made him half-inclined to jump ashore before the boat +started. Quickly overcoming the thought, he set to work to discover +which was his bunk, and while he was searching for some sign that would +help him to settle the matter, a Chinaman came below. He was dressed in +ordinary North Sea fishermen's clothes, and his pigtail was wound +tightly round the top of his head. Charlie mistook his natural +expression for a friendly smile, and therefore smiled in return. + +'Which is the cook's bunk?' he asked immediately, and the Chinaman +pointed it out to him. + +The Chinaman watched Charlie as he stowed his things away and donned his +cook's apron. Then he exclaimed suddenly, 'You no sailor-man!' + +Charlie looked at the Chinaman in surprise. 'How can you tell?' he +asked. + +'Never mind,' the Chinaman answered, now smiling in reality; 'me no +tellee any one. Me likee you first chop.' + +Charlie's knowledge of 'pidgin' English was slight, but he concluded +that 'first chop' meant 'very much,' and was pleased to find that he had +made one friend so quickly. + +'My name Ping Wang,' the Chinaman continued, 'but sailor men callee me +Chinee. Skipper Dlummond welly bad man. Callee me tellible bad names. +Good morning; no can stop.' + +Ping Wang went on deck, and a few moments later Charlie followed and +hurried to the galley, where his difficulties commenced. In spite of all +his efforts he could not light the fire, and, remembering the bow-leg +cook's injunction to keep the kettle always boiling, he began to think +that he was making a very bad start. He left the galley in order to ask +one of the men to show him how to make the fire burn, and met Ping Wang. + +'Can tellee me how lightee fire?' Charlie asked. + +Ping Wang nodded his head, popped into the galley, and pointed out to +Charlie that he had omitted to pull out the damper. Then he relaid the +fire, and, when he lighted it, it burned up quickly. + +'You no sailor-man; you no cook!' Ping Wang whispered merrily, and then +hurried away. + +'Ping Wang and I will get on very well together,' Charlie said to +himself as he filled the huge kettle with water. The kettle boiled +quickly, and almost immediately after the ship had left the dock the +mate's mug of tea was ready. + +'Have you given the skipper any?' the mate asked; and when Charlie +replied 'No,' he exclaimed, 'You had better be quick and take him some, +then.' + +Charlie filled another mug with tea and took it up on the bridge, but, +just as he reached the top step of the ladder, he stumbled, and, to +prevent himself from falling, dropped the mug. It fell with a crash on +the bridge, and the tea splashed the skipper's shore trousers, which he +had not yet changed. + +Skipper Drummond, a short, stout, ill-tempered fellow, was thoroughly +disliked by every one who knew him. He glared at Charlie for a moment as +if he had committed some terrible offence, and then shouted fiercely +'What did you do that for, you idiot?' + +'It was an accident,' Charlie answered bluntly, indignant at being +abused. + +'Saying it was an accident won't mend the mug.' + +'I will pay for a new one,' Charlie rather unwisely replied. + +'Pay for it, will you? So we have got a millionaire aboard, I suppose. I +wonder you ever came to sea. Why did you? Do the police want you?' + +Feeling that if he remained on the bridge he might speak his mind too +freely, Charlie turned to go, but the skipper called him back. + +'Come here, you ape!' he shouted. 'Do you think I am going to pick up +these pieces? Gather them up and throw them overboard.' + +(_Continued on page 202._) + +[Illustration: "The mug fell with a crash on the bridge."] + +[Illustration: "The skipper glanced at his watch."] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 199._) + + +As soon as Charlie had filled another mug with tea, he hurried back to +the bridge. + +'You have been a fine long time getting this,' the skipper declared, +anxious to resume bullying. But Charlie was determined not to give him +an occasion for fault-finding, and therefore he made no reply; but, as +he walked back to his galley, he vowed to himself that, do what he +might, the skipper should not have the satisfaction of making him +miserable. Already he had come to the conclusion that the man was +dishonourable, and was more than ever determined to find out to what +extent he hoped to defraud his father. He found that the galley +contained very few cooking utensils, but the need of them was not likely +to be felt that voyage, as the provisions consisted almost entirely of +tinned meats. There was not even one joint of fresh or salted meat +aboard. Charlie, therefore, did not have much difficulty in preparing +the dinner, as each tin of provisions bore instructions for the cooking +of its contents. Punctually at one o'clock he took a plate of +mock-turtle soup to the skipper, who was then in his cabin under the +bridge. + +As Charlie entered, the skipper glanced at his watch hanging on a nail +at the side of his bunk; but, finding that he could not abuse him on the +ground of being late, he contented himself with scowling. But, a few +moments later, he pretended that he had a real cause for complaint. + +When Charlie returned with the next course the skipper said, sharply: +'Look here, young fellow, don't you be so generous with other people's +things. There is enough meat for two men here. I'll eat it this time, +but remember I won't have any waste on this trawler. I know exactly what +provisions you have, and if they go too quickly, I shall give you in +charge for robbery. So just you be careful.' + +Charlie had not given the skipper a very big allowance of food, and was +naturally surprised at the reprimand which he had received. Had he known +that the skipper had a private stock of provisions, kept under lock and +key in his cabin, he would not have been surprised at his small +appetite. + +'Can I bring you anything more, Sir?' Charlie asked. + +'No,' the skipper replied, 'and don't you come bothering for these +things until after two o'clock.' + +That order was given so that Charlie should not return until he had +removed all traces of his private provisions. + +Glad to have finished for a time with the skipper, Charlie, with the aid +of the ship's boy, carried the men's food to the foc's'le. There was no +mock-turtle soup for them, but simply tinned meat, boiled and floating +in brown liquid. + +The crew of the _Sparrow-hawk_ were a brutal, low-minded set of men, and +their conversation sickened Charlie even more than the discomfort of his +life; so, after swallowing a few mouthfuls of the food, he went on deck, +and, going aft, sat down on a coil of rope to think. + +When he had been there about ten minutes Ping Wang joined him. + +'This is the first time you have been to sea on a trawler,' the Chinaman +declared as he sat down beside him. + +'How do you know?' Charlie asked, astounded to find that Ping Wang could +speak excellent English. + +'I could see that you were surprised at the way in which the men eat and +talked. If you had known that they behaved in that manner, you would not +have come to sea.' + +'That is very likely,' Charlie admitted. + +'Why have you come?' Ping Wang inquired. + +'One must do something for a living.' + +'You could have got a better job ashore. I am certain of that. You have +come to sea for fun.' + +'If I had, I fancy that I should be disappointed.' + +'The skipper has been bullying you, I suppose. He bullies every one.' + +'Yes, he has been bullying me, but I will let him know very soon that I +won't stand much of it.' + +'I advise you not to quarrel with him. I should not have come aboard +this trip had I known that he was coming. He told us last voyage that +that was his last trip.' + +'Where did he expect to be? In jail?' + +'No,' the Chinaman answered, smiling; 'he said that he was going to +retire. He was going to sell the trawler to some rich old fellow who +knows nothing about such things. The mate told me that the skipper hopes +to get half as much again as the trawler was worth. Last trip he cut +down expenses, and he is doing the same again now, so that the gentleman +who is buying her will think the cost of running a trawler is less than +it is. We are a hand short this trip.' + +'Is the trawler a sound boat?' + +'This is the only one I have ever been on, but the fellows on the +foc's'le say that she is the rottenest trawler on the North Sea. The +engines are patched up, and they have to be very careful of them.' + +'Then the skipper intends to swindle the man over the sale of her?' + +'Of course he does.' + +'I hope that the man won't buy her.' + +'So do I, but the skipper is confident that he will. If he doesn't, the +skipper's temper will be worse than ever next voyage. I shall take very +good care not to make another trip with him.' + +'Do you like a fisherman's life?' + +'No. I dislike it very much indeed.' + +'Then why are you aboard this ship?' + +'Did you not tell me that one must do something for a living?' + +'That is true; but, at the same time, I cannot understand why an +educated Chinaman should travel so many thousands of miles to become a +fisherman.' + +'I came to England to make my fortune,' Ping Wang declared. 'I thought +that when I got to London, I should be able, having an English +education, to get employment in the office of some merchant doing +business with China. But I soon found that nobody wanted me. The only +offers I received were not to my liking. One was a place in a laundry, +and the other was to stand outside a tea merchant's and distribute +bills. No one seemed to think that it was possible for a Chinaman to be +a gentleman, or to have any self-respect. At last, when all my money was +gone, I got a job as steward on board a pleasure boat. The owner became +bankrupt, and I was paid off at Yarmouth. I walked from Yarmouth to +Grimsby, and, after I had been hanging about the docks for a few days, +the skipper of this boat took me on.' + +'Then he is not such a heartless brute as I imagined,' Charlie remarked. + +'It was not out of compassion that he took me,' Ping Wang answered. 'He +said that as I had never been on a trawler, he would have to give me +small wages. After I had been at sea three days I could do my work as +well as any of the other men, but I only received half the wages that +they did. He knew very well that I should be able to do my work after a +few days' practice, and by taking me on he made a saving in his wages +bill. This trip he is giving me three-quarters of what he pays the other +men. We were only in dock for two or three days, and I had no time to +find another job, but I have made up my mind never to go to sea again on +a trawler, even if I have to starve. When we get back to Grimsby I shall +go to London, and see if the Chinese Embassy or the Home for Asiatics +will pay my passage home. I am afraid, however, that they will not +believe my story of being able to repay them, and I do not desire +charity. In fact, now I come to think of it, it would be very foolish of +me to tell my story to the people at the Embassy.' + +'Is it, then, such a wonderful story?' + +'An Englishman would think so, but a Chinaman would not.' + +For a few minutes Ping Wang was deep in thought, and Charlie got up to +look at a passing Norwegian ship. When he returned to his seat on the +coil of rope, Ping Wang said to him suddenly, 'Have you any Chinese +friends?' + +'No.' + +'Have you any English friends living in China?' + +'No.' + +Ping Wang gave a slight sigh of relief. + +'Then, if you will promise not to repeat what I tell you,' he said, 'you +shall hear my story.' + +'I promise,' Charlie answered. 'But I hope that you are not going to +tell me any anti-European plots.' + +(_Continued on page 214._) + + + + +RICE-PAPER. + + +Chinese rice-paper is a thing which we frequently hear of, but do not +often see. It is very curious and pretty, but far too frail for most of +the uses to which we put our English paper; and, for this reason, it has +no commercial value in European countries, and is only brought away by +travellers and traders as a curiosity. + +The rice-paper which I have seen was cut into small squares about three +by two inches, each of which had a beautiful coloured picture of a +Chinese man or woman. The paper was very white and thin, slightly rough, +like blotting-paper, stiff and brittle. It was impossible to fold it, +as the least effort to bend the sheet broke it in two. The pictures upon +these little sheets had evidently been painted by hand, and were very +beautiful and interesting. The surface of the paint was bright and +clear, and the paper was transparent enough to permit the picture to be +seen from the back, with all its colours and details only a little +dimmed, as if seen through a thin sheet of ground glass. + +Notwithstanding its name, rice-paper has really nothing to do with rice. +It is not made from rice, nor even from the rice plant, but from the +pith of a kind of ivy, the _Aralia papyrifera_, which grows abundantly +in the island of Formosa. This _Aralia_ is not much like our English +ivy. It is, in fact, a small tree, which may attain a height of twenty +or thirty feet, and is crowned with a number of large leaves, shaped +like those of the sycamore. It bears clusters of small, pale yellow +flowers, which contrast beautifully with the dark green foliage. The +stem is ringed with the marks of the fallen leaves, very like the stems +of the castor-oil plants which are often seen in pots in England. + +The stem of the rice-paper plant is hollow, and filled with a pith +which, though it is rather broken in the centre, is firm and compact +outside. After the tree has reached a certain age, the pith becomes less +serviceable, and so the tree is usually cut down when it is about twelve +feet high, before it has attained its full growth. The stem is cut into +lengths of nine or twelve inches each, and the pith is pushed out by +inserting a stick at one end, and hammering it through the core of the +tree. The little rolls of pith obtained in this way are placed in hollow +bamboos, which permit them to swell a little, but prevent them from +curling up as they dry. When properly dried, they are ready for the +cutting, which is the really skilful part of the making of rice-paper. +The man who cuts up the pith has a long, sharp knife, which he places +against the side of the roll of pith in such a way that it will take off +a thin paring as he turns the roll round and round. It is like paring +off the bark of a log by rolling it round against a sharp knife, with +these differences, however, that the paring is as thin as paper, and +that it is part of the log itself, and goes on until the broken centre +is reached. The parings, or sheets, when stripped off, are about four +feet long, and they are placed one upon the other and pressed, after +which they are cut into squares like those described above. The squares +are made up into packets of one hundred each, which the Chinese sell for +five or six farthings a packet. Many of these little squares are dyed or +stained different colours, and are used for making little artificial +flowers; others, as we have already seen, are covered with little +pictures, representing sometimes the people and the costumes of China, +and sometimes the birds, butterflies, and animals of that country. + +There are a few other trees or plants which yield a pith from which +rice-paper can be made; but the _Aralia_ is the most important. Though +the tree grows best in the northern part of Formosa, the paper is made +less by the Formosans than by the Chinese, who barter their goods for +the rice-paper trees or logs. + +[Illustration: "How it tasted--well, I've never heard!"] + + + + +TOO TEMPTING TO BE LOST. + + + A fox one day had left his cosy den, + And wandered forth amid the haunts of men. + What did he want? Of course he wanted food-- + A tender duck, or something quite as good; + But though he wandered far and wandered near, + No duckling could he see his heart to cheer. + + Through fields and copses did the poor fox go, + With hungry longings and a heart of woe. + Thought he, 'It's very plain that dainty food + I cannot find to-day; still, something good + May yet turn up. But stay! what's that I see + Hanging asleep upon the old ash-tree? + + 'I do declare the creature is a crow-- + Not very tempting to the taste, I know; + But still, if nothing better can be had, + Perhaps it may not taste so very bad. + So up at once he jumped, and seized the bird, + But how it tasted--well, I've never heard! + +M. K. + +[Illustration: A Corner of Hyde Park.] + + + + +THE PARKS OF LONDON. + +I. + + +I wonder if you who read this are a Londoner, and, if so, whether you +have ever sailed paper boats on the Serpentine? Can you remember +watching your fleet of snowy paper spreading their white wings and +sailing away into the far distance, after the manner of Christopher +Columbus or Vasco di Gama? Or have you seen your toy ships driven by +fierce winds on to a lee shore bristling with cruel crags and yawning +clefts? + +A very ocean it is, no doubt, to the feathered creatures that float upon +its waters, shelter beneath its rush-lined banks, and spend their whole +family life within its borders. Here the babies are born, and here the +tiny birds take their first airings--some perched on their mother's +back, some swimming beside her without a thought of danger. Nothing is +more delightful to the children of all classes who daily throng the park +than a family of ducklings having their first lesson in the way to take +care of themselves. One way or another, the duck tribe come in for more +practical attention than all the other birds put together; for most +people like to have their kindness warmly met, and no duck ever says +'No' to an offer of food. + +Once in a way a stately swan may condescend to pick up a bit of bun or +biscuit, but it is done with such a proud air, that the duck's ready +gratitude and eagerness is more attractive. Here and there, in very +quiet nooks overlooking the water, may be seen a group of bunnies, +nibbling some dainty weed, and far too much at home to pay attention to +the warlike looks and noisy cries of Father Duck, who clearly thinks his +family is in danger. + +On the right of the Serpentine towards the north, a wide slope of grass +and trees above the water has been fenced off for the benefit of the +Peacock family, and these are objects of great interest to admirers of +all ages. The males come in for most attention, owing to their beauty. +It is a very droll sight to see Mr. Peacock, with gorgeous tail and +crest fully outspread, his richly coloured breast and neck gleaming in +the sunlight, bowing, strutting, and scraping before the peahen whom he +admires. On this same ground moorhens and other shy aquatic birds make +their home in bush and sedge, from time to time crossing the open grass, +evidently aware of their safety, but taking little interest in the +lookers-on. + +Memories of the past have very much to do with this oldest of the +national parks. The Serpentine recalls to us one of London's lost +rivers, the Westbourne, the current of which still helps to swell its +volume of water. Rising in the Hampstead heights, and passing the +villages of Paddington and Kensington, this stream flowed through and +often overflowed the pleasant Manor of Hyde, which then belonged to the +rich Abbey of Westminster, and from which the present park takes its +name. + +Good Queen Bess thought her own amusement and that of her courtiers of +more importance than the enjoyment of the common folk, and filled the +park with antlered stag and timid deer, while for many a long day the +merry 'toot, toot' of the hunter's horn echoed amongst its glades, until +merriment vanished before the grim tragedy of King Charles's execution +in 1649. Then for twenty years and more the stately avenues were quiet +and peaceful, and little children played beside the river until Cromwell +died and Charles II. 'came to his own again.' Nothing less than turning +the park into a race-course would content the new king, and the +enclosure echoed with the sound of galloping horses, whilst an army of +men with pick and shovel cleared and cut out the circular drive now +known as Rotten Row, a name which is supposed by some to be a +corruption of the French 'Route du Roi' (King's Way). + +North-east of the park, close to where the Marble Arch now stands, was a +plot of ground connected with more horrors than could be found elsewhere +in England. This was the site of the famous Tyburn Tree--London's +hanging-place in the days of old, when even a child might be hanged for +stealing a few pence. Many a procession of carts came from Newgate in +the City, laden with men, women, boys, and girls, followed by an excited +crowd eager to watch the execution. Round the gallows galleries were +erected and let out at high cost to fashionable folk--fine ladies and +gay gallants all ready for the show. Happily humanity has made progress +in the last century, and such dreadful sights have long been done away +with. + +William III., like most of his Dutch relations, was a great gardener, +and cut quite a large slice out of Hyde Park to improve the gardens of +Kensington Palace, where he and Queen Mary made their home. At the same +time he made a great many improvements in the actual park, although for +the Serpentine we have to thank Queen Caroline, wife of George II. + +Since then Hyde Park has always been the playground of the rank and +fashion of the United Kingdom, and nowhere else in England can such +numbers of magnificent carriages and horses be seen as here in the +season. The alleys bordering the drives are filled on summer afternoons +with thousands of well-dressed people--many perhaps admiring the +splendid clumps of rhododendrons, which form one of the sights of the +park in early summer. The rich, too, are not the only people who +appreciate this national playing-place. Thousands of poorly-clad women +bring their white-faced children from crowded courts and alleys to enjoy +the fresh air, and unlimited room in which to play. + +Turn where we will, Hyde Park is, in our times, a scene of peaceful rest +both of body and mind for weary citizens. Yet matters far less suitable +to its beautiful surroundings have often disturbed its peace. In the +days of duelling, the north side beneath the trees was a favourite place +of meeting. Here on a Sunday in 1712, the first Duke of Hamilton, a +statesman who could ill be spared by his country, engaged Lord Mohun, +and both adversaries were carried dead from the field. + +As we stand on the bridge, looking down and watching the quiet water, +with all its living things, and the rabbits in their corner, it seems +hard to believe that we are in the midst of a maze of human dwellings, +and that miles and miles of busy streets surround us. But pause and +listen awhile, and you will hear, above the music of the birds, the ring +of voices and echoes of children's laughter, above the dull hum of +well-hung carriages and pattering of horses' feet, a never-ending +roar--the sound of the greatest city the world has ever seen. All round +us, shut off only by a little space of grass and trees, lie its +pleasures and its miseries. + + + + +SERVED HER RIGHT. + +Founded on Fact. + + +Not long ago there was a story told of a young girl whose kindness to an +old man brought her a great reward. She was in the crowd upon the +occasion of Queen Victoria's first Jubilee, and observed a rather +shabbily dressed old gentleman who appeared to be ill. Taking him by the +arm, she made a way for him through the dense throng of people, and got +him safely into a quiet street. There he explained to her that he had a +weak heart, and that he had foolishly ventured out sight-seeing, but the +excitement and the closeness had made him faint. He thanked the girl +warmly for her help, and asked for her name and address, which she gave +him. + +A few years after this little adventure, the girl received a letter in a +big blue envelope. It was a communication from a lawyer, who informed +her that the gentleman whom she had so kindly helped on Jubilee Day had +died, and had left her by his will the greater part of his large +fortune. + +There is another story rather like this, but about a different sort of +girl. A gentleman happened to read the above tale out of a newspaper as +he sat with his family at breakfast. His little daughter, as she +listened to her father, thought how nice it would be if _she_ could win +a fortune thus easily. So the next time she saw an old man shivering on +the brink of a crossing, she went up to him, and, with a sweet smile, +said in her politest tones: 'May I have the pleasure of assisting you?' + +But the man chanced to be a cross-grained old fellow, and, thinking that +the girl was making fun of him, he brandished his stick at her, +whereupon, in a great fright, she ran away as fast as she could. + +I think you will agree with me that the little girl quite deserved this +rebuff, because of the unworthiness of her motive. + +E. DYKE. + + + + +THE FLOWER-GIRL. + + +'Fine window-plants! Who'll buy?' shouted the man with the flower-laden +donkey-cart; but it was Mary, his daughter, who did most of the selling. +She stood on the edge of the pavement, a plant in each hand, and smiled +at the passers-by, and few could resist the pretty picture she made. +They would stop and admire the flowers even if they could not afford to +buy, and Mary had smiles for all, though perhaps the brightest were kept +for those who made a purchase. + +And yet the girl's heart was heavy, and tears lay very close behind the +smiles. Trade had not been very brisk of late, while illness in the home +had made the expenses heavy. Her favourite little brother was still +ailing, and seemed to make no progress. The doctor had said he needed +change of air and nourishing food; but how could the doctor's orders be +obeyed when money was so scarce? + +The morning was getting on, and still the cart had not lost much of its +load. Smiles were more difficult to manage as the hope of being able to +take home something dainty for Dicky's supper grew less. + +A lady with her little boy had just passed, but looks of admiration were +all they gave. In the distance an old gentleman appeared, and he was +even a more unlikely customer. He peered through his spectacles, and +seemed too much wrapped up in his own thoughts to spare attention for +anything else. + +As he was passing the cart he slipped, and would have fallen had not +Mary put out her arm quickly to steady him. But, alas! in doing so the +flower-pot she was holding fell, and lay in fragments on the pavement, +with the delicate blooms of the azalea quite ruined. + +'Thank you, my dear,' the gentleman said. 'It was kind of you to come to +an old man's help.' But he did not notice the broken flower-pot, and +passed on, while Mary gazed in dismay at what meant a loss they could so +ill afford. + +'Run after him, my girl,' her father said. 'Tell him he must pay for +that flower. A fine thing to come damaging other folk's property, and to +slip off without a word!' + +But at that moment a girl came hurrying along the pavement. 'Oh,' she +cried, 'I saw what happened. That is my grandfather, and he is nearly +blind. I must overtake him, and I am sure he will come back and repay +you.' + +Mary watched anxiously, and when they arrived, the old man leaning on +the girl's arm, her spirits rose again. + +'My grand-daughter says I always get into mischief when she leaves me +for a minute,' he said, smiling. Then he put his hand in his pocket and +took out a few coins. 'Will this make good the mischief I have done?' he +asked. + +'Oh, sir, it is too much,' Mary said. 'The price of the flower was only +eighteen-pence.' + +'But I must pay for my rudeness in running away without apologising, and +you can buy a ribbon for yourself with the extra money.' + +'I shall get something a great deal more useful than that,' she said. + +'You seem to be a sensible young woman for your age. I wonder what this +useful purchase will be?' + +'Something to make my little Dicky strong,' Mary said softly. + +'And who is Dicky?' asked the pretty grand-daughter; and she looked so +sympathetic that somehow the whole story came out, for Mary's heart was +full, and words came readily in response to this touch of kindness. + +'I shall call and see him,' the girl promised, when she had inquired +where Mary lived. And so the misfortune of the broken flower-pot turned +out to be the best bit of good fortune Mary had ever enjoyed. Not only +did her new friend come laden with delicacies for the invalid, but she +interested herself in having him sent with some other children for a +month to the sea-side. And when Dicky returned, brown and rosy, and full +of life and spirits, Mary felt she could sell her flowers with a smiling +face again, and look forward to the future with a light heart. + +M. H. + +[Illustration: "'Who'll buy?'"] + +[Illustration: "Just as Lord Massereene was leaving the prison, he was +arrested."] + + + + +A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. + +True Tales of the Year 1805. + +V.--LORD MASSEREENE'S IMPRISONMENT. + + +'Truth is stranger than fiction,' says a very old proverb, which is +certainly illustrated by the following tale of an eccentric nobleman's +life. + +Lord Massereene was born in 1742, and in due course sent to Cambridge +University, where, however, he learnt next to nothing except how to row +on the river, and this he did to perfection. + +On coming of age, he started off to do the 'Grand Tour,' as it was +called--a leisurely visit to the various capital cities of European +countries. This was a custom much in vogue amongst the young men of the +wealthier classes a hundred years ago. Our young friend, however, went +no further than Paris, for that fascinating city was too much for the +foolish fellow, and he spent his money right and left, till he was +almost penniless. He then fell into the hands of an unscrupulous +adventurer, a native of Syria, who put before him a plausible tale of +how easy it would be to make a fortune by importing salt from Syria to +France. Lord Massereene, in the hope of regaining the money he had +wasted, invested all he could lay his hands on in this wild scheme, and +of course, as it was a fraud, lost every penny. + +The next misfortune that happened to him was an arrest for debt, and he +made acquaintance with the inside of 'La Chatelet,' one of the largest +prisons in Paris. He could, however, have satisfied his creditors, and +been released from prison, had he been willing to allow his estates to +be charged with his debts; but this he persistently refused to do. + +There was at that time a law in France permitting debtors who had +suffered twenty-five years' imprisonment to be allowed to go free, with +all their liabilities discharged, and this extraordinary young man +actually decided to do this, and to settle his debts by undergoing a +quarter of a century of prison life! + +Beyond the inability to leave the prison, Lord Massereene seems to have +suffered at first but few privations, for cheerful society was not +denied him, and he managed to woo and wed the daughter of one of the +principal officials of the place. + +A plan of escape was at length made, and as the young lady's father was +able and willing to help in the matter, it was very nearly successful. +But not quite! For, just as Lord Massereene was leaving the door of the +prison to enter the carriage which was in waiting for him, he was +arrested, and taken back to the prison. It appears that the Governor's +suspicions had been aroused by seeing a carriage and pair loitering +about the gate. As soon as he had caught the escaping prisoner, he +ordered him to be lodged in the dungeon, a gloomy cell, below the Seine, +on which Le Chatelet was built. + +Lord Massereene now knew all the rigours of a French prison. He was left +to languish in damp and darkness, with no companions but the rats, and +only the coarsest food. + +When at last the twenty-five years were ended, and his release came, he +was indeed a pitiful object: gaunt, yellow, with a long unkempt beard +reaching below his knees. + +But his wife had remained constant to him, and together they set out for +England. On landing at Dover, Lord Massereene was the first to step on +shore, and falling on his knees, he exclaimed fervently,-- + +'God bless this land of freedom!' + + * * * * * + +He lived nearly twenty years in the enjoyment of the estate for which he +had suffered imprisonment for so long, and died in 1805. + + + + +THE SAGO-TREE. + + +Sago is made from the pith of a tree-trunk. This tree--the sago-tree--is +a kind of palm, like the date-tree and the cocoanut-tree. It is found in +the East Indian Islands, where it gives food to many thousands of +people, particularly in the large island of New Guinea, where a great +part of the population is almost entirely dependent upon it. + +The sago-tree grows in swampy places, either by the sea or in little +hollows by the hill-sides. It is thicker than the cocoanut palm, but it +does not grow quite so tall, being about thirty feet high when full +grown, and perhaps twenty inches in diameter. What looks like the root +of the sago-tree is really a creeping underground stem, from which a +spike of flowers grows up when the tree is about ten or fifteen years +old. For some years, while the plant is young, the upright growing stem +is covered and completely hidden by very large spiny leaves. These are +rather like enormous feathers, of which the centre stems, or midribs, +corresponding to the quill of the feather, are from twelve to fifteen +feet long, and, in their widest part, as thick as a man's leg. They are +used like bamboo by the natives, for building houses, and also for +making the roofs and floors of houses that are built of other kinds of +wood. + +The bases of the midribs widen out and wrap round the stem like a kind +of sheath, as almost all leaf-stalks do to some extent. But the sheaths +of the sago-tree are so large that, when they are broken off and +trimmed, they are like large baskets or troughs--wide in the middle, +where they have grasped the stem, and narrow at the ends, where they +have joined the tree or are rolled up to form the midrib of the leaf. It +is interesting to remember this, because the natives actually use the +sheaths as baskets and troughs. + +The hollow stem of the growing sago-tree is not more than half an inch +in thickness, and it is filled with a light, pithy matter, from which +'sago' is made. This pithy matter varies in colour from a rusty tinge to +white, and is rather like the eatable part of a dry apple. Strings of +harder, woody fibre run through it like straight veins, and these are of +no use for making sago. The pith is best for use when the tree is full +grown and just about to flower, and it is then that the natives cut it +down. + +The tree is cut close to the ground, and, as it lies on the soil, its +leaves are cut off, and a portion of the bark is shaved away from the +upper side of the trunk so as to lay the pith bare. A native takes a +club with a sharp stone in the end of it and beats the sago-pith with +it. By this means he breaks up the fibres and the pith into little +chips, taking care that they are kept within the trunk. From time to +time these chips are loaded into one of the sheaths of the midribs, and +carried away to be cleaned. The beater continues to break up the pith +until there is nothing left but the hollow tree-trunk. + +The sago is separated from the fibres in the pith by the aid of water. +The natives take two sheaths of the sago-plant and make them into +water-troughs. They set them up upon little frames, one sheath a little +higher than the other, with one of its narrow ends projecting like a +spout over the lower sheath. A kind of net-like bark or skin, obtained +from the cocoanut tree, serves as a strainer or sieve, and is stretched +across the upper sheath or trough. They empty the broken pith into the +trough above the strainer, and pour water upon it. The soft part of the +pith is a kind of starch, which dissolves in the water, and so flows +through the sieve and down the spout into the lower trough, but the +fibres are held back by the sieve. In order to get all the sago-starch +out of the pith, the sago-maker kneads and squeezes the pith until +nothing but fibre remains. This is waste, and is thrown away. When the +sago-laden water falls into the lower trough it rests awhile, and the +sago sinks into the bottom of the sheath as a soft reddish sediment, +while the clear water rises to the top, and by and by trickles over the +end of the sheath. When this trough is nearly full the sago-starch is +taken out, made into rolls, and wrapped in the leaves of the tree. + +The sago thus prepared is known as raw sago, and is used by the +islanders without being further refined. They boil it in water, and eat +it with fruits and salt, or they bake it into cakes in a little clay +oven. When these cakes have been well dried they will keep for years; a +man can make in a few days sufficient sago-cakes to last him a whole +year. It has been calculated that a single tree will produce about +eighteen hundred of these cakes. + +The sago which we use for our puddings is made by refining the raw +sago. When our grandfathers and grandmothers were young, the best raw +sago used to be mixed with water and rubbed into small grains before it +was sent to Europe. At the present time the sago, after being moistened, +is passed through a sieve into a shallow iron pot, placed over a fire, +and in this way the round pearly sago which we use is produced. As this +sago is half-baked in this operation, it will keep for a very long time. + +The Malays call the sago-tree the _rumbiya_ and its pith _sagu_ from +which word we get our name _sago_. We have here an instance of a Malay +word which is in daily use in the English language. + + + + +FAITH AND SIGHT. + + +A little story is told which helps to show the difference between faith +and sight. + +The master of an infant school told a boy to move a stool in such a way +that he was not seen by the little ones himself. Then he taught them +this lesson. + +'You cannot see any one moving the stool; is it not alive?' + +'Oh, no, sir! it never was alive. Some one _must_ be moving it.' + +'But you cannot see anybody; perhaps it moves itself.' + +'No, sir; though we don't see anybody, that makes no difference. It +cannot move itself.' + +Then he told them of the moon and stars, which, though we see no one +move them, certainly do move, and no one could do it but God, whom we do +not see. + +'Yes!' they said; 'it must be God.' + +'But then we cannot see Him.' + +'Please, we must believe that it is He.' + +'You do believe it, then?' + +'Yes sir.' + +'Then this is Faith.' He added: 'If you have little faith, what will you +do then?' + +'I will shut myself up in a corner,' said one little mite, 'and pray for +more.' + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +VI.--HOW INSECTS WALK. + + +Grown-up insects seem to be very short of legs compared with many of +their distant relatives. Thus, while no member of the insect tribe--when +grown up--has more than six legs, the Centipede or the Millipede may, as +their names imply, possess a far greater number--as many, indeed, as two +hundred and forty-two! But there is one curious likeness between the +legs of the insects and those of their relatives--the number of pairs of +legs is always odd. The insect has three pairs; the centipede and +millipede have a very variable number, ranging from fifteen to one +hundred and twenty-one pairs! + +We have seen how wonderful the foot of the fly is, with its two sticky +plates for smooth surfaces, and its two claws for rough ones. The +Honey-bee has very similar feet, but the two plates are joined to form +one! As in the fly, when climbing rough surfaces the flat plates are +raised up, and the claws used instead; but when a smooth or slippery +place has to be crossed, the claws are pulled backwards and the plates +are brought down. + +The legs of insects vary much, according to the purpose for which they +are used. Thus, the Gnats, which spend the greater part of their time on +the wing, have long slender legs, suitable for breaking the shock of +alighting. Whilst in other insects the legs are used for all kinds of +work, such as seizing prey, carrying it, climbing, digging, and so on. +When this is the case the legs are provided with spines, or bristles. + +In the Mole Cricket (fig. 1) the fore-legs are very strong, being short +and broad, and ending in a broad comb-like plate, which is used for +digging. They are very like the great digging paws of the mole. + +The exact way in which insects walk is not easy to describe, and much +study has been given to this most puzzling subject. Many devices have +been adopted to make the insect draw a map of its course. In one +instance the legs of a slow-walking beetle were painted, and the insect +was then made to walk upon a clean sheet of paper; the track made by +each leg being distinguished by the use of a different colour. + +From this and other experiments it appears that there are always three +legs in motion at the same time, or nearly so; meanwhile the remaining +three legs support the body. First (as in fig. 2) the left fore-leg +steps out, then the right middle-leg and the left hind-leg. Then the +movement is taken up by the legs of the opposite side of the body, and +so on. + +If the movement of the legs in the six-legged insects is difficult to +find out, what shall we say when the centipede (fig. 3) and millipede +come to be examined? These, though not insects, are nearly related to +the insects, and since they are common in our gardens, must be referred +to here. + +[Illustration: Fig. 1.--Mole Cricket (magnified).] + +According to the lines of a humorous poem, the centipede was said to +have been-- + + 'Happy till + One day a toad, in fun, + Said, "Pray which leg moves after which?" + This raised her doubts to such a pitch + She fell exhausted in the ditch, + Not knowing how to run.' + +[Illustration: Fig. 2.--Beetle walking.] + +The last pair of legs in the centipede and millipede are never used for +walking, and are generally much longer than the rest. In a South +American species they are provided with delicate nerves, and are used as +antennae or 'feelers,' so that the animal is armed with organs of touch +at each end of the body! In one kind of millipede, in the male the last +pair of legs has a sound-producing apparatus, consisting of a ridged +plate, which, by being rubbed against a set of tiny, bead-like bodies +set in the surface of the last shield covering the body, produces a +peculiar noise. + +[Illustration: Fig. 3.--Centipede (magnified).] + +Centipedes and millipedes generally shun the light, and hide under +stones and in crevices during the day. But there are some which love the +sunlight. These kinds are remarkable for the great length and +slenderness of the legs, which they part with readily when handled! Most +of these long-legged species are brightly coloured with black and yellow +stripes or spots. In their native haunts these creatures may be seen +darting about after their prey in the sun, heedless of the notice they +attract by reason of their pretty colours. Few birds or beasts would +think of eating them, for these creatures have a providential instinct +which tells them that the gaudily-coloured animals are generally very +nasty to the taste! + +W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S., A.L.S. + +[Illustration] + + + + +THE MAN WITH THE GLASSES. + + +So common is short-sightedness nowadays that military officers, and +sometimes private soldiers, are allowed to wear spectacles. Formerly +this was not the case. Where, by special permission of the authorities, +exceptions had been made, the unfortunate wearers of glasses in the army +came in for the ridicule of their comrades. + +At the time when the French were fighting the Algerian chief, +Abd-el-Kader, there was in a battalion of foot-chasseurs a spectacled +adjutant named Duterbre. His companions made great fun of him. A man +who wore glasses could not, in their opinion, be much of a hero. One day +Duterbre, engaged in a reconnoitring expedition, was slightly wounded, +and taken prisoner by the enemy. He was brought before the Arab chief. +The remainder of the French force had, in the meantime, taken refuge in +a walled enclosure close by. + +'Go to your companions,' said Abd-el-Kader to Duterbre, 'and tell them +that their lives shall be spared if they will surrender. Yours, in that +case, shall be spared also. But if they refuse to surrender, I will +utterly exterminate them, and I will have you beheaded. And understand +this clearly: I send you to your people on one condition--that whether +or not they accept my terms, you are in any case to return to me. Do you +accept my conditions?' + +'I do,' replied Duterbre. + +Duterbre left the Arab camp, well aware that his only chance of life lay +in the surrender of his battalion. If the French soldiers resolved to +fight on, he was bound in honour to go back to death. + +Duterbre returned to his companions. He had always been a man of few +words, and he said very little on this occasion. But what he said was to +the point. It was this: 'Chasseurs! If you do not surrender, the Arabs +are going to cut off my head. Now die rather than yield, every one of +you!' + +Then the brave fellow turned his back, and went straight to the Arab +camp, with the message that the French refused to surrender. + +The chief carried out his threat. The adjutant was beheaded, and his +head--spectacles and all--was carried round the camp upon a pole for +public exhibition. None could say that it was not the head of a brave +man. + +E. D. + + + + +WHAT AM I? + + + No one can be pleased with me, + I am dark and dull to see; + Those whom money troubles tease + Hate me, for I spoil their ease. + + Welsh am I, and English too, + Scottish, in another view; + Wide and narrow, small and great, + Dreary, too, and desolate. + + Let him think of me, who eats + Marmalade, and other sweets; + Full of work am I, and wealth, + Though too closely packed for health. + +[_Answer on page 230._] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 203._) + +CHAPTER III. + + +'What I am going to tell you,' Ping Wang began, 'is purely a family +matter. It is the reason why I left China. My father was the mandarin of +Kwang-ngan, and although he did not become a Christian, he was very +friendly with the English missionaries, and when I was quite a little +boy he asked them to teach me all the things which English boys were +taught. When I was ten years old I was sent to a school at Hongkong, +kept by an Englishman, and I remained there until I was eighteen. That, +of course, accounts for my speaking English fairly well. When I was +eighteen my father sent for me. But I found Chinese manners and customs +were not pleasing to me after so many years among English people. +Therefore I asked my father to permit me to return to Hongkong and +become a merchant. He was considering the matter, and I believe that he +would have given his consent, when he was seized by Chin Choo's orders +and executed. He was unpopular with the authorities at Peking. The +mandarin of every town has to squeeze as much money as he possibly can +out of his people and send it to the authorities. My father was a +kind-hearted man, and as he did not squeeze his people so much as most +mandarins, he did not send so much money to the Imperial coffers as the +authorities wished. Twice they reprimanded him, and Chin Choo, who lived +at Kwang-ngan, hearing of this, went to Peking and asserted that my +father retained for his own use the greater part of the money which he +had squeezed out of the people. The high officials believed this false +tale, and, having received bribes from Chin Choo, empowered him to have +my father executed and succeed him as mandarin. My mother and brother +were also killed, and our house burnt to the ground. Fortunately for me +I was not in the town at the time, and hearing what had taken place I +started off at once for Hongkong. Of course, it was useless for me to +attempt to get Chin Choo punished, for such events are of frequent +occurrence in parts of my poor country. So, having a little money, which +I obtained by selling some jewellery which I possessed, I took a passage +to England. What has happened to me since I have already told you.' + +'It is a very sad story,' Charlie declared, feelingly; 'and I am +exceedingly sorry for you. But what surprises me is, that after having +suffered so much in your native land you should think of returning to +it.' + +'I will tell you my reason. Chin Choo confiscated all our property, but +I hope to be able to recover a very valuable portion of it. Before our +house was burnt to the ground, everything that it contained was removed +to Chin Choo's residence. Among those things was a large brass image of +Buddha. If I can recover that I shall be a rich man!' + +'But brass images of Buddha are not very valuable.' + +'That one is, because it was my father's safe--a receptacle for his very +precious rubies. He made the idol himself, and no one but he and I knew +how to open it. Chin Choo will never discover the secret, or guess that +the idol contains anything. Therefore I wish to return to my native +place in disguise, and obtain that idol by some means or other. If I +succeed in obtaining it, I shall be a rich man.' + +'I should like to go with you,' Charlie exclaimed. + +'I wish you could,' Ping Wang answered, eagerly. 'I can read character +well enough to know that you are not what you pretend to be. You have +come to sea for novelty or curiosity, but not for necessity. If you +accompany me to my native place, I promise you that if I recover my +father's idol I will repay you all the expense to which you have been +put, and give you some of the precious stones.' + +'I wasn't thinking of the stones, but of the adventure and experience. +If my father raises no objection, and will supply me with the necessary +money, I will go with you gladly.' + +Ping Wang was delighted, and Charlie added to his high spirits by +confiding to him the reason of his being aboard the _Sparrow-hawk_. + +'So your father is the man whom the skipper hopes to swindle!' Ping Wang +exclaimed, and went off into a fit of laughter. + +'Stop that row!' the skipper shouted, coming aft. 'Can't you find any +work to do? I'll have no loafers aboard my boat. Here, you Chinee, you +get for'ard, and trim the lamps.' + +Ping Wang rose to obey. + +'Hurry up!' the skipper growled, and kicked him. + +In a moment Charlie was on his feet. 'You wretched little bully!' he +said to the skipper. 'If you ill-treat that man again, I will knock you +down.' + +'You dare to threaten me on my own ship!' the skipper shouted, white +with rage. 'I'm the skipper, and I'll let you know it. I'll clap you in +irons if you give me any of your back answers.' + +'Why not try kicking me instead?' + +'I'll give you in charge for mutiny when we get back to Grimsby.' + +'I shouldn't be in a hurry to enter a police-court, if I were you. +Prosecutors are sometimes asked unpleasant questions.' + +The chief engineer at that moment came up from the engine-room. + +'Skipper, I want a word with you,' he said. + +'Right you are,' the skipper replied, and walked over to him, well +pleased to bring his argument with Charlie to an end. Charlie was not +really a very formidable opponent for a grown man, but Skipper Drummond, +like many bullies, was a great coward. + +Charles, left alone, resumed his seat on the ropes and, forgetting for a +time the skipper's existence, spent a pleasant half-hour in thinking +over the story which Ping Wang had related to him. + +About three hours after the quarrel, the _Sparrow-hawk_ arrived at the +'Dogger,' a submarine bank, the nearest point of which is about sixty +miles from England. It is one hundred and seventy miles long and seventy +miles broad. + +'We shall shoot in an hour's time,' the mate said to Charlie, 'and you +must give us a hand.' + +'Whom are you going to shoot?' Charlie inquired, jokingly. + +'I know whom you would like to shoot--the skipper. He has taken a +dislike to you, and tells me that you are the biggest scoundrel he ever +had aboard.' + +The mate smiled as he spoke, and added, after a few moments' interval: +'The skipper is a queer customer, and, if you take my advice, you will +do all you can to please him. Anyhow, he says that you are to give a +hand when we shoot and when we haul the trawl.' + +'I am to be fisherman as well as cook. Is he going to pay me double +wages?' + +'You had better ask him. Got a mug of tea handy?' + +Charlie had, and he gave it to him. + +'We shall want tea again after shooting,' the mate said to Charlie as he +replaced the mug on the hook. + +Leaving the big kettle on the stove, Charlie went out to witness the +preparations for beginning fishing, and was just in time to see the men +anchor a small buoy, fitted with a light and a flag. This was anchored +so that the _Sparrow-hawk_, by keeping it in sight, should not wander +away from the fishing-ground. They were in about twenty-six fathoms of +water, and, if they lost sight of the buoy, they would probably steam +into deeper water, and the net would then be unable to reach the bottom. +By day the fishermen keep within sight of the buoy-flag; by night they +watch the buoy-light. In fishing fleets, when some twenty or thirty +steam trawlers belong to one firm, an old smack called a 'mark-ship' is +anchored on the fishing-ground. It can be seen for many miles in +daylight, and by night its whereabouts is made known by rockets fired +from it. But 'single boaters,' such as the _Sparrow-hawk_, have to rely +upon their own little flag and light-buoys. + +When the _Sparrow-hawk_ had anchored her buoy she steamed off, and, +punctually at five o'clock, 'shot her gear,' or, in plainer language, +lowered her big triangular fishing-net. This having been done without a +hitch, the men had their tea. Charlie took his in the galley, having +determined to spend as little time as possible in the foc's'le. He had +discovered that the crew of the _Sparrow-hawk_ was composed of the black +sheep of Grimsby and Hull. They were men whom no decent North Sea +skipper would have had on his boat. On nearly all the trawlers working +out of Yarmouth, Grimsby, and Hull, the men are fine, manly, +thoroughbred Englishmen, facing danger fearlessly and uncomplainingly +year in and year out. Drunkenness is almost unknown among them, and bad +language is rarely heard. If Charlie had been on almost any other boat +than the _Sparrow-hawk_ he would have thoroughly enjoyed sitting at the +foc's'le table, having a chat with the men. But to save a few pounds the +skipper had engaged, at low wages, men who were known to be bad +characters, and who could not, therefore, get a job on any other +trawler. Skipper Drummond had himself been discharged for drunkenness by +the owners of a fleet in whose employ he had been for some years. Where +he got the money from to purchase a trawler was a mystery to most +people, although it was discovered later that a betting-man was in +partnership with him. + +Charlie, being satisfied that the skipper intended to make an attempt to +swindle his father, was anxious to get back to Lincoln as speedily as +possible to make known what he had discovered. He had forgotten to ask +the bow-legged cook how long the _Sparrow-hawk_ would remain at sea, and +could, therefore, form no idea of when he would get home. + +(_Continued on page 218._) + +[Illustration: "The skipper cruelly kicked the Chinaman."] + +[Illustration: "'Can he do this?' Charlie asked."] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 215._) + + +While Charlie was regretting his ignorance of trawlers' movements, Ping +Wang appeared at the galley-door. + +'Well,' Charlie said, 'has the skipper said anything more to you?' + +'No,' Ping Wang answered, smilingly; 'I believe you have frightened him. +But he will pay you out somehow or other.' + +'I hope, for his own sake, that he won't attempt to, for I hate the +little fellow already, and if he interferes with me unnecessarily I will +give him a sound thrashing.' + +'He is very strong,' Ping Wang remarked, warningly. + +'Can he do this?' Charlie asked, catching hold of a bucket full of water +and holding it easily at arm's-length straight from the shoulder. + +Ping Wang made no reply but gazed at Charlie in astonishment. Charlie +was slightly built, and Ping Wang had no idea that he was so strong. But +he had gone in for a course of physical development exercises before +coming to Grimsby, and was in fine condition. + +'If the skipper thinks, as I did, that you are not very strong,' he said +at last, 'he will be very surprised.' + +'Well,' Charlie said, rather pleased at the astonishment he had caused, +'let us forget him for a time. When do we return to Grimsby?' + +'In three or four days.' + +'So soon? I thought we were out for three weeks, at the least. I had an +idea that steam trawlers always remained out for three weeks.' + +'Boats belonging to the fleets do. A steam carrier collects the boxes of +fish from them every morning, and carries them off to London. But single +boaters have to take in their own fish to Grimsby, and therefore they +have to run in every few days, or else the fish wouldn't be fresh.' + +'Then I shan't have to endure the skipper for as long as I expected.' + +'You'll have to endure him for seven or eight weeks, I'm afraid. When we +run in just to land fish we are not allowed to quit the ship. After +unloading we sail as soon as possible.' + +'But do you mean to say that he can prevent my leaving the ship at +Grimsby?' + +'I believe he can. You see, if men were allowed to leave whenever they +liked, the fishing industry would soon be upset.' + +'I didn't think of that. However, I will get a substitute if possible. +There will be no objection to that, I suppose?' + +'I don't know. The skipper is a curious kind of fellow, and he may +refuse to let you go, so that he may have the pleasure of bullying you. +Why don't you pretend that you are ill? He would put you ashore very +soon then.' + +'I don't like the idea of getting out of an unpleasant position in that +way. By-the-bye, how do you pass the time away before hauling the +trawl?' + +'Some of the men turn in, and others play cards or draughts. Do you care +about draughts?' + +'Oh, yes, but I won't go down in the foc's'le to play.' + +'I will bring the board up here if it is not being used.' + +Ping Wang hurried away, and returned in a minute or two with the +draughts. + +'They are having a sing-song in the foc's'le,' he said. 'The skipper is +there, and is a little bit the worse for drink.' + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +Charlie won the first game at draughts, and they had just begun a second +when the skipper suddenly appeared at the galley door. His face was +flushed, and there was a wild look in his eyes. + +'The galley is not the place for playing draughts,' he said, and with +his hand swept the pieces off the board. + +Charlie and Ping Wang made no remark. It was plain to them that he had +paid that visit for the sole purpose of bullying them, and they were +wondering what his next complaint would be. + +'I want a mug of tea,' he said, seeing that the kettle was not boiling. + +Charlie put the kettle on the fire at once. + +'That's the result of playing draughts when you ought to be at work,' +the skipper growled. 'I always want some tea at this time.' + +'In future it shall be ready, sir,' Charles replied, calmly. + +'Future--eh?--I want it now. What's that Chinee doing here?' + +'I thought you noticed that Ping Wang was playing draughts with me.' + +'You're not paid to think. I do that for all the crew.' + +Then the skipper turned his attention to prying into the pots and pans, +to see if he could discover anything which would give him an opportunity +to find fault. To his evident annoyance he did not succeed in +discovering anything, for Charlie had done his work thoroughly, and the +cooking utensils looked much cleaner than when he entered on his duties. + +In a few minutes the tea was ready, and as soon as the skipper tasted it +he made a grimace, and exclaimed, 'Beastly wash!--Do you hear?' he +exclaimed, finding that Charlie did not speak. 'It's wash!' + +'It is made in exactly the same way as the other tea you have had during +the day,' Charlie declared. + +'Then I must have drunk wash before. But I won't drink this. Here, +Chinee, you drink it.' + +'Me no want any, skipper,' Ping Wang answered. + +'Don't want it, eh? What does that matter? Drink it at once.' + +Ping Wang shook his head, and the skipper immediately flung the contents +of his mug full in the Chinaman's face. The tea was very hot, and with a +cry of pain Ping Wang ran at his tormentor. Stepping backwards quickly, +to avoid him, the skipper stumbled over the weather-board at the +entrance to the galley, and fell heavily on to the deck. + +The mate, who had been pacing the deck, ran to pick him up. 'What's the +matter, skipper?' he asked. + +'That Chinee has knocked me down,' the skipper declared. + +'He did nothing of the kind,' Charlie declared, and related to the mate +exactly what happened. + +'You'd better get an hour or two's sleep before we haul,' the mate said +to the skipper, and, taking his arm, led him away. + +'I think we had better turn in also,' Ping Wang said, and Charlie at +once went forward with him. + +The other men were already asleep. The ventilators were all closed, and +the foc's'le was so close and stuffy that Charlie thought, at first, +that he would have to go on deck again. But, being very tired, he +determined to stay where he was, and clambered into his bunk. He slept +soundly, in spite of the bad air, until Ping Wang aroused him. It was a +quarter to eleven, and the men were donning their oilskins, with a view +to hauling. + +'You had better put the kettle on,' Ping Wang said to Charlie; 'all +hands will want tea before they turn in again.' + +Charlie, wearing his oilskins, went to the galley at once. As he passed +along the deck he shivered, for a breeze had sprung up, and the air +struck cold, after the stuffiness of the foc's'le. + +(_Continued on page 226._) + + + + +THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S HEAD GARDENER. + + +'We must not forget the gardener,' says a visitor, describing Walmer +Castle at the time when Wellington was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. +This gardener, a fine-looking, elderly man, was at the battle of +Waterloo, and when his regiment was disbanded, the Duke offered him the +post of head gardener at Walmer Castle. + +The good fellow objected, for, to use his own words, he 'did not then +know a moss rose from a cabbage,' but the Duke was determined, and, as a +soldier, the man could but obey orders. 'But now,' he said to the +visitor, 'I get on pretty well.' + +'And like it?' he was next asked. + +'Oh, yes.' + +'But suppose war were to break out--would you be a soldier again?' + +'Why, that must depend on the Duke: if he said I must go, of course I +must.' + +'How did you manage when you first came here?' + +'Why, as well as I could. It was rather awkward.' + +'Perhaps you studied hard--read a good deal?' + +'No, I didn't read at all.' + +'You looked about you, then?' + +'Yes, I did that.' + +'And now you get on very well?' + +'Why, yes; but I am plagued sometimes: the names of the flowers puzzle +me sadly.' + +'And what does the Duke say to that?' + +'Oh, I have him there,' said the soldier gardener, 'for he doesn't know +them himself!' + +The visitor also stated that the garden abounded in flowers--not rare +ones, but rich and luxuriant, with a well-kept lawn, in the midst of +which was a lime-tree, which the Duke always declared to be the finest +he had ever seen. + +The experiment of turning a soldier into a head gardener seems to have +been quite successful. + + + + +TWO MEDALS. + + +A little English schoolboy was sauntering along the quay, looking rather +bored. It was a picturesque scene--this port of the Black Sea--with the +varied craft in the harbour, and the varied nationalities represented by +the groups of men who chattered and gesticulated, or lounged and slept +in the sunshine. + +But what, he thought, were the summer holidays without cricket? Of +course, it was jolly to be with his people again, but Dick did wish they +lived in England. The boys at school had envied him because his journey +home would take him through the unrestful Balkan territory, and he might +have all manner of adventures. It was very hard that there had been +none, though the train after his had been held up, and had not got +through without some fighting. + +He reached the end of the stone pier, where half-a-dozen men were +leaning over a low parapet. + +'What is your pleasure, little Milord?' one asked him. This was their +nickname for the boy, who had been a favourite with them since he had +learnt to order them about in their own tongue when not much more than a +baby. + +'My pleasure is a cricket match,' he answered, 'and as far as I can see +it is a pleasure I shall have to do without.' + +'Would not little Milord like to fish?' asked another. 'See, one already +is trying his luck,' and he pointed to a boy about Dick's age sitting on +the parapet with his line in the water below. + +'A foolish place to try, with the current running as strong as it does +round the end of the pier,' Dick said. 'He is not likely to get a bite +there.' + +Even as he spoke the boy jumped up suddenly and turned round. No one saw +exactly how it happened, but he missed his balance, and with a scream +fell into the water. + +For a minute Dick waited. He was such a little chap, and of course one +of those big men would jump in after the boy. But no! they stood staring +at each other with terrified faces, and never moved. + +Then over the wall went Dick into the water beneath. The boy had risen, +and he struck out for him, reaching him easily enough, for the current +carried him. It was getting back which was difficult. + +The men at the pier-head ran about and shouted in a frantic way. 'A +boat!' shouted one. 'A rope!' called another; while a third wrung his +hands and moaned, 'They are lost! they are lost!' + +And Dick battled and battled against the current with the dead weight of +the boy hindering him from making any perceptible way. It never even +occurred to him that by letting his burden go he might at any rate save +himself. And his English pluck came to his help. He wouldn't be beaten. +He just _had_ to get to land somehow, and he must not let himself think +of anything else. The men, too, had at last found a rope and were +flinging it to him. If only he could get near it! Once it was just +within his grasp, but he was beaten back again. Then, with a final +tremendous effort, he struck out again and reached it, and held on like +grim death, though the singing in his ears and his struggling, panting +breath warned him his strength was nearly exhausted. By this time, +however, a boat was nearing them, and soon the boys were on land, though +the lad Dick had saved was with difficulty brought back to +consciousness. + +Dick himself was rather white and limp, but otherwise not much the worse +for his adventure. + +'Why didn't one of you go in after him? I gave you a chance,' he said to +the men. + +'The water was too cold,' muttered one. + +'Too deep!' said another. + +'Too dangerous!' growled a third. + +And the small schoolboy shrugged his shoulders and went home, to be made +a great fuss over by his mother and sisters, which he thought absurd; +but he liked the quiet look of pleasure his father gave him when he came +in after hearing the news in the town, though he only said, 'Good +business, my son!' + +And although he is very shy of showing them, I think Dick is rather +proud of his two medals: one of the country where the courageous act was +performed, and that other of dull bronze which the Royal Humane Society +presents to England's brave sons and daughters. + +Dick thought it took far more courage to walk up and receive this medal +amidst the cheers of the boys and their gay company on Prize-day, than +it did to jump in to the rescue of the boy in the Black Sea. + + + + +ANIMAL MAKESHIFTS. + +True Anecdotes. + +I.--INSTEAD OF A HAND. + +[Illustration: "The elephant uses his nose as a hand."] + + +The wonderful contrivances by which animals manage to do beautiful work +without tools, to walk without feet, to fly without wings, to talk +without a voice, and to make their wants known not only to each other +but to their human friends, without understanding or speaking human +words, would fill a large book. No creature boasts of a hand like our +own; even that of the monkey, though his fingers resemble man's, has a +thumb which is nearly useless. The American spider-monkeys prefer to use +their long tails as hands, plucking fruits with the tips and carrying +them to their mouths. The elephant uses his nose as a hand (for his +trunk is nothing else but a long nose), and with this makeshift hand he +can pick up either a heavy cannon or a sixpence from the ground. The +horse uses his tail as a hand to drive off flies which he cannot +otherwise reach. On board ship a hen was once seen to use her neck as a +hand. She and the other fowls used to quarrel over the laying-boxes, and +though the nests looked all alike to a human eye, this hen coveted one +special box, and would lay nowhere else. One day her master took the +china nest-egg out of the box and put it into another one, to see what +she would do. He watched her through the chink of a door, and saw her +hunt till she found the egg, curl her neck round it like a big finger, +lift it thus, and carry it back to the old box, where she sat on it in +triumph. + +Stories of rats who have been seen to carry off eggs, embracing them by +their tails, are common enough, and everybody has watched animals of +different kinds using their mouths to carry things from place to place. +Not only lions, tigers, wolves, and bears carry their young in this way, +but rabbits, squirrels, mice, and many other creatures. The mother-whale +tucks her little one under her huge fin, using it as a hand and arm in +one; in time of danger she carries him off thus at the risk of her own +life from under the very harpoons of the whalers. + +All young animals have an instinct which prompts them to run to their +parents for protection when frightened, trusting not only in the older +and wiser heads, but in the faithful hearts which have never failed +them. Though sheep, cattle, deer, and such-like, have no notion of using +their jaws as hands, or of lifting their little ones, many of the young +will use their limbs to cling to those who are stronger and swifter +than themselves. The four-footed elders will perish rather than desert +the youngsters, and will, if possible, contrive to beat a retreat, +helping along the weaker ones as best they can. + +A very touching story of the devotion of deer to their fawns comes from +America. While two men were riding along a creek in California, they +saw, some distance ahead, a doe and her fawn drinking from the river. +The bank was very steep, and the river deep at that point. When the deer +saw the hunters they were startled, and in trying to turn, the little +one lost its balance and fell into the creek. The water was running very +swiftly, and of course the fawn was carried down-stream. At this the +poor mother seemed to lose all fear of the men, and ran wildly along the +bank, trying to reach her little one with her head, but in vain. She +next ran forward for a short distance, plunged in, steadied herself by +planting her feet firmly among some rocks, and waited. Presently the +fawn was washed against her, and, as it was being swept by, caught hold +of its mother, stretching out its forelegs and clasping her neck, much +as a little child uses his arms in clinging to his nurse. The doe then +carefully stepped ashore with her precious burden. She lay down beside +the baby deer, and, although the hunters were not thirty yards away, she +licked and fondled the little thing till it rose to run, when she too +sprang up, and the pair trotted off unharmed to the woods. + +[Illustration: "He saw her curl her neck round the egg like a big +finger."] + +Many birds use their wings as arms and hands when flight will not serve +their turn. A partridge was seen to hustle and drive her little troop of +chicks into the shelter of a rabbit-hole with her wings, out of the way +of a hawk whose shadow had fallen on the grass at their side. Here she +kept them prisoners till all was safe. + +[Illustration: "The fawn caught hold of its mother, clasping her neck."] + +The lesson to be drawn from such stories is that even wild, untaught +creatures do not use their limbs in a senseless way as parts of a +machine, without thinking, but are able to turn them to a variety of +uses in times of difficulty. We shall, of course, find that tame animals +such as the horse, dog, and cat act more wisely in such ways than their +wild relations. The dog, for instance, turns his rough idea of using his +mouth for carrying food or young ones, to fetching and carrying for his +own benefit or his master's. A handsome brown spaniel lately noticed +that his mistress, in carrying a bowl of water, upset some of the +contents on the floor. Off dashed Master Jack, intent on 'making himself +generally useful,' and quickly returned with the house flannel from the +kitchen. This he laid beside the pool, with an intelligent, uplifted +look which said, 'There! wipe it up.' Did not this sensible fellow's +mouth become a splendid makeshift hand, and his glance an excellent +speech? + +EDITH CARRINGTON. + + + + +THE PITCHER-PLANT. + + +The leaves and flowers of plants often grow into very strange shapes. +The flowers of various kinds of orchids are very remarkable for the +peculiar forms which they take. Some of them have a great resemblance to +bees, flies, or butterflies, and this resemblance is at times so great +that we wonder whether it is only an accidental likeness, or whether it +serves some useful purpose. One of the oddest shapes which any plant +takes, however, is that of the leaves of the pitcher-plant; and in this +case naturalists, who have studied the plant carefully, are able to show +us that the strange shape of the leaf really serves a purpose. + +The pitcher-plants are most abundant in the islands of Borneo, Java, and +Sumatra, and in the Malay Peninsula. Though not so plentiful elsewhere, +they are also found in Ceylon, Madagascar, the Moluccas, and one or two +other places. The plant is a kind of creeping or climbing shrub which +runs along the ground, or climbs up other shrubs and short trees. It +seems to thrive best upon the mountaintops, and the summits of the +mountains of Borneo are often gaily decked with it. + +There are thirty or forty different kinds of pitcher-plants, varying in +size a great deal. But the strange thing about all of them is that the +ends of their leaves are shaped like pitchers, or perhaps it would +describe them better if we said they were like jugs with lids. It is +from this peculiarity that the plant takes its name. The leaf is the +shape of any ordinary leaf until it reaches its point, where it is drawn +out into a long stalk or tendril, at the end of which is the jug or +pitcher, which, you must remember, is formed out of the leaf itself. +Each plant has its own shape of jug, and the jugs vary in size a good +deal. Some are long and slender; others are broad and shallow. Some are +tiny jugs only an inch deep, while others are perhaps twenty inches +deep. Their colour is green, but the mouth of the jug and the under side +of the lid, which is always open, are spotted with red or purple, +somewhat like a flower. + +Not only do these strange leaves look like jugs, but they are also used +as jugs. Each of them contains a little supply of water, varying with +the size of the jug from a few drops in the smallest, to as much as two +quarts in the largest of them. Thirsty travellers have sometimes +quenched their thirst from these natural jugs, when no other water was +to be found. Though the water itself is palatable, it is a little warm, +and it is always full of insects. + +If any one were to watch one of these jugs of the pitcher-plant for some +time attentively, he would soon find that it served as a trap for flies +and insects. One by one the little creatures alight upon the outside of +the jug, and creep into the open mouth, and few or none of them ever +return. They slip into the water at the bottom of the jug and are +drowned. + +If we examine a jug carefully, in order to learn why the insects enter +it, and how it is that they cannot get out again, we shall be surprised +at the clever way in which the trap is made. The mouth of the jug has a +thick ring round it, which makes it firm, and keeps it always open. The +lid stands over this mouth, and seems to be always raised a good deal, +so that insects and flies may enter freely; but it covers the mouth in +such a way as to prevent anything from falling accidentally into the jug +from above. The underside of the lid and the mouth of the jug are often +gaily coloured, so as to attract insects, as brightly-coloured flowers +do. Some of the jugs even make a little honey, which, forming just +inside the mouth, attracts insects by its scent. Within the jug, just +below the mouth, there is a row of stiff hooks, which have their points +turned inwards towards the bottom of the jug. Below the spikes the sides +of the jug are so smooth and slippery that few insects could stand on +them. + +It is easy to see how the trap works. Insects are attracted to the +pitcher by the bright colours of the lid or the scent of the honey. They +creep into the mouth, and crawl between the hooks, whose sharp points +are set the other way, and they step upon the smooth and slippery inside +of the jug. In another instant they have slipped into the water at the +bottom of the jug. Do what they will, they cannot climb up the slippery +sides of the pitcher, or pass the row of sharp hooks, whose points are +turned against them. They are caught. + +Now all this is very strange and wonderful, and it makes us wish to know +why Providence has given the plant this clever machinery. We cannot help +asking ourselves why the pitcher-plant entraps these insects. I am +afraid that you would hardly be able to answer this question for +yourself, however carefully you might watch a pitcher-plant. Indeed, it +is only a few years since clever men, making careful experiments, were +able to find out the real truth. The fluid at the bottom of the pitcher +_digests_ those insects, and the pitcher-plant feeds upon them. Just as +the juices of our stomach dissolve meat, so that it may pass into the +blood and nourish us, so the fluid in the jug of the pitcher-plant +dissolves the flesh of the insects which fall into it, and makes that +flesh fit to nourish the plant. This strange plant lives, in part at +least, upon flesh; and all the clever mechanism of its jug is used +simply to get a meal. + + + + +ONE AND ONE MAKE TWO. + + + As through the busy world you go, + Remember this is true, + That though one seems a little thing, + Yet one and one make two. + + The task one could not do alone, + Is done with help from you, + For though you are a little one, + Yet one and one make two. + + The thread that's rolled the reel around, + That baby's hands can break, + When with it other threads are bound, + The strongest rope doth make. + + The rope thrown by some helping hand, + And drawn the waters through, + May bring a drowning man to land:-- + So one and one make two. + + The minutes grow into the hours, + The hours into the day, + The days to weeks, to months, to years, + And thus time flies away. + + And deeds of good by children done, + Though small they seem to you, + May grow into a mighty sum, + For one and one make two. + + + + +CRUISERS IN THE CLOUDS. + +VI.--THE GIANT AND ITS ADVENTURES. + + +Two hundred needlewomen were busy for a month making the 'Giant's' coat. +It contained twenty thousand yards of white silk, of double thickness, +at six shillings a yard, and when finished measured ninety yards round +and sixty yards in height. When it was filled it held 6098 cubic yards +of gas. M. Nadar, its master, introduced it to the people of Paris in +the hope that the money they would pay to see it would enable him to +carry out his experiments with flying machines. On October 4th, 1863, +the Giant was ready to make its first voyage in the clouds, and nearly +five hundred thousand people assembled to see it start. + +It was like a cottage made of wicker-work, and mounted on small wheels. +In two of the four walls there was a door with two small windows each +side of it, and inside there was a little world of wonders. The +'cottage' was only fifteen feet long, twelve wide, and eight high; but +it was divided up so carefully by thin partitions that there was room +for a small printing-office, a photographic department, a +refreshment-room, a compartment for the captain's bed and passengers' +luggage, and another at the opposite end, with three beds in it. Outside +all this, but inside the walls of wicker-work, was an inflated rubber +lining, so as to prevent it from sinking if, by any mischance, the +'Giant' should fall into the sea. Thus, according to circumstances, the +building could be either the car of a balloon, a ship at sea, or a +caravan being drawn by horses upon the wheels already mentioned along a +country road. From the inside a narrow stairway led on to the roof, or +deck. + +When all was ready, M. Nadar, leaning from the deck, gave the word. The +ropes were let go, and the Giant rose solemnly towards the sky. Fifteen +voyagers waved their hats and handkerchiefs over the bulwarks, returning +the greetings of the crowd till carried beyond sight and hearing. + +Though the launch was a success, the poor Giant had been served very +badly by some careless persons, all unknown to those on board. The +pilot, a clever aeronaut, named Godard, was a little surprised that very +soon after leaving the ground he had to begin throwing out ballast, to +stop them from sinking. This went on for some hours, and when darkness +had fallen, and all the world had disappeared, it became clear that the +balloon must descend. They had attained a height of many thousand feet. +It was nearly nine o'clock, and supper on deck was over, when Godard, +finding that the descent was becoming too rapid, called out, 'Hold to +the ropes!' + +Every passenger seized some portion of the ropes, so that the shock of +contact with the earth might be somewhat lessened. Down came the Giant, +a great deal more swiftly than it had risen; and the last bags of +ballast were emptied over the side with little effect. The blow was +tremendous, and the wonder is that the passengers escaped with their +lives. An inquiry was held, and the Giant itself was proved blameless. +The valves for allowing the escape of gas had never been properly +closed! Thus, from the very moment when they left Paris, the gas was +pouring out at the top; and it was only through the enormous quantity +used that they succeeded in rising at all. + +A fortnight later M. Nadar was ready to sail again. This time the Giant +had nine passengers, who were destined to make an eventful voyage. +Anchor was weighed in the evening, and very soon, at a great height, all +eyes were turned to watch the beautiful sunset. As the shadows of night +gathered round them, however, more than one traveller looked anxiously +at the gigantic ball above. Supposing anything should go wrong with it! +It looked such a tremendous distance down to the earth. + +When day dawned again at last, after a night during which no one had +closed his eyes, they found themselves hanging over the fens of Holland, +many miles from Paris. Fearing that the wind might carry them out to +sea, they agreed to descend. But, on reaching the lower air, the huge +balloon was caught in what proved to be almost a hurricane. It drove +them towards the ground at a long angle, until, like a falling kite, the +Giant struck the earth head foremost, dragging the car behind it at a +terrible speed. The travellers hung on for dear life. Again and again +the car struck, and rebounded thirty or forty feet into the air. With +the first blow the valve-rope was jerked beyond reach, so that it became +impossible to let the gas escape. + +Mile after mile they tore through the country, crashing into trees, and +scattering herds of cattle right and left. All the anchor-ropes, dropped +one after the other, had been snapped like thread, the last catching in +the roof of a cottage, and tearing it open before giving way. Then, to +the horror of the passengers, a railway-train appeared a short distance +ahead, spinning along at great speed. A collision seemed inevitable; but +with one united effort they shouted to the driver. He heard them, and +reversed his engine, and the next moment they whirled by, dragging +telegraph wires and poles after them. And now a hero came to their +rescue. Jules Godard, the pilot's brother, after many fruitless +attempts, climbed into the network and secured the valve-rope. The gas +was now slowly discharged, and before the bag was empty the passengers +had either jumped or been jolted from the car, bruised and shaken, but +happily without loss of life. + +After making such a wonderful name for itself, the Giant took a short +sea voyage on board a real ship, and crossed the Channel to England, +and, blown out with harmless air, hung under the great glass dome of the +Crystal Palace for visitors to admire. After this it made only one or +two more journeys to the clouds, and ended its career as a poor captive +balloon in the gardens of Cremorne. + +[Illustration: "The driver heard them, and reversed his engine."] + +[Illustration: "One of the fishermen prevented him from sneezing +again."] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 219._) + + +Much to his relief, Charlie found that the galley fire had not gone out. + +'I kept it going, cook,' a grimy young trimmer declared. 'It would have +gone out long ago if I hadn't looked after it. And I've filled the +kettle for you. Got a bit of grub to give me?' + +Charlie took out a chunk of bread, dabbed a spoonful of marmalade on top +of it, and gave it to the lad. + +'Any time you want anything done, I'll do it,' the trimmer declared, and +departed. + +As there was nothing to detain Charlie in the galley he went forward to +assist in hauling. The skipper was on the bridge; the mate was working +the donkey-engine, which was fast drawing in the long wire ropes +attached to the net, and the deck hands stood at the starboard-side +gunwale, watching for the net to appear. An electric light was hung up +at the bridge, so that the men could see to do the work they had in +hand. For a moment or two Charlie stood at the foot of the bridge, +waiting for the skipper or the mate to tell him what to do. + +'Stand here,' Ping Wang said, quietly, but loud enough for him to hear. + +Charlie nodded his head and took up his position about three feet away +from the Chinaman. Soon the net appeared above water, and the men, +bending over the gunwale, grasped it with their hands, and, tugging all +together, pulled it slowly but surely upwards. + +'Where are the fish?' Charlie asked, surprised at seeing none in the +part of the net at which they had been tugging. + +'For'ard,' Ping Wang answered, and as he spoke the donkey-engine started +panting and puffing, and the part of the net to which the Chinaman had +pointed was now raised high above the gunwale. It resembled a huge +cooking-net which had been lifted out of a gigantic pan. It was crowded +with fish, and as it was pulled in and suspended over the pound made on +the deck, the very small fish, mostly dead, fell through. Others, with +wide-opened mouths, were caught in the meshes. A fisherman now stepped +under the dripping net, untied it at the bottom, and sprang quickly +aside as the catch of fish fell with a thud into the pound. + +'What a mixture!' Charlie exclaimed as he gazed at the fish jumping, +wriggling, and sliding about in the pound. 'What are they?' + +'Cod, plaice, haddock, and turbot,' Ping Wang replied, but he only named +a few of them. The catch included also ling, sole, whiting, dab, gurnet, +oysters, crabs, whelks, cat-fish, star-fish, and a large amount of ocean +scrapings. + +Charlie stood watching the struggling mass, deeply interested, but Ping +Wang whispered to him, 'Come away, or you'll have the skipper at you. We +are going to shoot now.' + +Charlie bestirred himself at once, and assisted in shooting the gear. +When that had been done without a hitch, the work of sorting, cleaning, +and packing the fish was begun. Three men stepped into the pound, +trampling on the fish until they had made a clear space for their feet. + +'Give a hand there, cook!' the skipper shouted, and Charlie stepped into +the pound. He had not the heart to tread on the still living fish as the +others were doing, and in his anxiety to avoid hurting them, he slipped +and fell against the gunwale, his sou'-wester falling overboard. The +other men stopped work at once, and looked at him in a by no means +friendly way. The skipper abused him loudly and fiercely. + +'It was my own sou'-wester,' Charlie declared, unable to understand why +the skipper should be so excited over the loss. + +'Then why don't you jump overboard and save it? We will fish you up next +time we haul.' + +The men laughed heartily at this grim joke. + +'Take the skipper's advice, mate,' one of them said. 'I want some new +boots badly.' + +'It is thought a bad omen if a fisherman's sou'-wester is blown +overboard,' Ping Wang explained in a whisper, whereupon Charlie laughed +loudly at the superstitious idea. + +'Stop that row,' the skipper shouted, 'and start cleaning the fish.' + +Charlie took out his clasp-knife, and seized a plaice. + +'Don't cut that,' Ping Wang warned him. 'Put the plaice in the box just +as they are.' + +Charlie hesitated, for the fish was not yet dead, and he did not like +the idea of packing it away while it was alive. + +'Here, stow it away,' a fisherman growled, and snatching it out of his +hand flopped it in the box and smacked a dead fish on top of it. + +The plaice were the only ones which had not to be cut open. As each fish +was cleaned it was tossed into another pound, and when the whole of the +catch, with the exception of the plaice, oysters, whelks, and the +useless fish, were in this, the hose was turned on to the silvery mass. + +When the fish had been thoroughly cleansed with water, they were packed +away in boxes, which were at once stowed away in the hold between layers +of ice. + +Charlie was not required to assist in the work in the hold, and +therefore he hurried to the bucket, on which was painted 'All hands,' +and indulged in a wash. He was fortunate in being first, for fresh water +is not plentiful on a trawler, and one bucketful has to suffice for the +whole crew. + +From the bucket, Charlie went to the galley and made the tea. Every one, +from the skipper to the ship's boy, had a mugful; some had two. The +North Sea fishermen are inveterate tea-drinkers. + +Having drunk their tea, the men threw off their oilies and turned in +again with all their clothes on. + +'It isn't worth while undressing,' Ping Wang said to Charlie. 'In about +three hours' time we shall have to turn out again. If you don't undress +you will have a little longer time to sleep.' + +Charlie did not undress, and consequently he was ready to start work at +once when the time came. He put on a peaked cap in place of his lost +sou'-wester. + +'Don't forget the tea, cook,' one of them said to Charlie as he climbed +up on deck. 'Let's have it before we start hauling.' + +Thanks to the trimmer the kettle was boiling, and Charlie was therefore +able to bring the men mugs of hot tea in less than five minutes from +turning out. + +'Cook is one of the right sort, after all,' one of the fishermen +declared as he returned his empty mug to Charlie, and the others +assented by nods and grunts. But before long Charlie was again in hot +water. As he was assisting to haul in the net he sneezed loudly. In a +moment one of the fishermen placed his big, dirty hand over his mouth +and effectually prevented him from sneezing on the net again. + +The skipper, looking down from the bridge, broke into loud abuse. + +'What harm is there in sneezing?' Charlie answered, angrily. + +'None of your back answers, or I'll clap you in irons.' + +'If you do, you'll have to pay for it dearly when we get back to +Grimsby. I insist upon knowing what harm I have done.' + +'It is thought very unlucky to sneeze on a trawl,' the mate explained +quietly, anxious to save Charlie from any further bullying. 'It is +supposed to bring bad luck to the trawler. Now, grab hold of the net.' + +Charlie again tugged at the net, and, when the catch was emptied into +the pound, it was found that it was an exceedingly small one. + +'That comes of having you aboard!' the skipper declared, pointing at +Charlie. + +'I don't see how my sneezing could have affected this catch,' Charlie +answered, 'considering that it was almost on board when I sneezed.' + +'But how about your sou'-wester last night? That was what ruined this +catch, and your sneezing will spoil the next one.' + +Charlie laughed openly at this prediction, but it was rather unfortunate +for him that, when the next haul was made, it was found that the catch +was still smaller than the previous one. + +'I told you so!' the skipper declared, white with rage. + +'It is a coincidence,' Charlie replied, calmly. 'If I sneeze on the net +now you will probably have a fine catch next time.' + +'No back answers. Don't you try to teach me anything. Get away to the +galley at once, and be careful what you do.' + +Charlie returned to the galley, hardly knowing whether to be angry or +amused. It was very galling to have to submit to the abuse of an +ignorant, blustering fellow like the skipper, but, at the same time, he +could not take the man's superstition seriously. + +'I would not have believed, unless I had seen the skipper, that it was +possible for there to be such a superstitious Briton living at the end +of the nineteenth century,' Charlie said to the mate, about half an hour +later. + +'Oh, there are many like him in the North Sea,' the mate answered, 'and +all the arguing in the world won't convince them of their foolishness. +After a time you will not find his ignorance and superstition amusing. +However, what I want to say to you is this: the men in the foc's'le +declare that the grub isn't well cooked, and that you haven't given them +plum duff yet. You must let them have it to-morrow.' + +'I will,' Charlie declared, as if plum duff were the easiest thing in +the world to make. + +When the mate left him, Charlie took out the bow-legged cook's written +instructions to see what ingredients were necessary. His idea was to +make and boil the pudding that evening, so that, if it turned out a +failure, he would have time to make another one. If it proved to be a +success, he would be able to warm it up on the following morning. But, +just as he began to read the recipe, he noticed that the fire had burnt +low and needed instant attention. In his anxiety to prevent it from +going out, he put down the flimsy little book and began shovelling coals +on the fire. While he was doing that a gust of wind swept through the +galley, and carried the recipe-book out through the porthole and into +the sea. + +Charlie, gazing out at it, saw it float for a moment or two, and then +lost sight of it. + +'Well,' he muttered, ruefully, 'I don't know how I am going to make plum +duff now!' + +(_Continued on page 238._) + + + + +THE TRUMPET AND THE DRUM. + + + Said the Trumpet to the Drum: + 'Less noise, good fellow! come! + For nobody can hear + My voice, when you are near.' + + 'Boom! boom!' the Drum replied, + 'The fault is on _your_ side; + You blow with such a sound + That _my_ poor voice is drowned.' + + And after that, all day + They blew and boomed away, + In contest so absurd + That _neither_ could be heard. + + Now, when you want to speak, + O children, never seek + To drown in noisy tone + All voices but your own; + But learn to shun in life + The Drum and Trumpet's strife. + + + + +JIM'S SHOWER-BATH. + + +The kitchen was very hot, and Aunt Christy, the old black cook, was very +busy. With her sleeves rolled up above her elbows, and her cap all awry, +she bustled about, hurrying the slow movements of the girls who were her +helpers, and scolding the four little dusky children whenever they got +in her way. She declared that they were all as full of mischief as they +could be, and that there was not a pin to choose between them. But if +one of the four _did_ happen to be worse than the others, that one was +certainly Jim. + +Jim was nearly seven; his young mind was full of eager questions; he +wanted to know the reason of everything, and it was really because he +was so curious and prying that Aunt Christy thought him worse than the +rest. + +[Illustration: "Jim got a terrible drenching."] + +On that morning he poked about the kitchen, opening baskets and peering +into dishes, until his eyes fell upon a large bright pail, which was set +upon a stand too high for him to reach. + +'That's a new pail. Why's Aunt Christy got a new pail? Wonder what's in +it? I will see.' + +So said Jim to himself; and when he found that, even by standing on +tiptoe, he could not reach, the little rascal trotted off for his +three-legged stool, mounted on that, put his chubby arms as far as they +would stretch round the pail. A three-legged stool, however, is but a +treacherous support, and this Jim found to his cost. As he stood there, +it slipped from under his bare feet, and the pail, which was full of +warm water and vegetables, suddenly overturned. + +Poor Jim got a terrible drenching; it was lucky for him that the water +was not very hot, or he would have been sadly scalded. As it was, a big +turnip hit him on the head, and the handle of the pail hurt him. Wet and +bruised he crept away, a sadder and a wiser boy, inwardly resolved to +have nothing more to do with things which did not concern him. + +C. J. BLAKE. + +[Illustration: A Cliff-dwelling of North America.] + + + + +WONDERFUL CAVERNS. + +VII.--THE CLIFF-DWELLERS OF NORTH AMERICA. + + +If you take a map of North America, and trace the line of the Rocky +Mountains downwards, you come to the State of Colorado, with New Mexico +and Arizona lying below; and if you tried to explore this country you +would find yourself in a perfect network of mountains. In Colorado there +are magnificent snow-peaks, with richly wooded valleys lying between +them, whilst in New Mexico and Arizona the land is much more bare, +mountain ridges, often covered with stones and pebbles, dividing flat +table-lands of great extent. + +Common to all three States are wonderful gorges, or splits in the +cliffs, of immense depth. Sometimes from below one can hardly see the +sky between the precipices; at other times the gorge may open out into +quite a broad valley; but, whether narrow or wide, we may be quite sure +that wherever there is a canyon (as these rock-splits are called in +Western America) there will be a river running down it. + +One of these rivers, named the Colorado, travels for more than three +hundred miles along a channel of its own cutting, never less than a mile +below the level of the surrounding country. If we remember that we take +from fifteen to twenty minutes to walk a mile, and then fancy that mile +standing on end like a pole, we may get some idea of what the cliffs are +like in these canyons. + +The currents of the mountain rivers, like those of all waters flowing +from high lands, are very strong and swift; and when the snows are +melting, or after heavy rainfalls, the force of the stream is enormous. +The result is that the channel is worn deeper and deeper, whilst the +cliffs at the side are eaten away in places. The hardest rocks remain in +jagged points and ledges, and the softer parts are in time washed away, +leaving caverns of all shapes and sizes. + +The kind of people who lived in this country of highlands and canyons +were tribes of American Indians, whose food was chiefly found in +hunting, and whose main interests lay in making war upon their +neighbours. Some tribes were strong, and others weak, so that by degrees +the powerful folk drove away the less warlike people from the rich +hunting-grounds and wooded country into the barren rocks. Now, if these +hunted tribes were to exist at all, it was clear they must find some +means of protecting themselves; thus it may have happened that +scrambling up the cliffs one day to avoid their foes, some fugitive +Indian came into one of the dwelling-places hollowed out in bygone ages +by the river which roared below. What joyful news he would carry home to +his friends when he ventured to go back to them! Shelter from rain, and +snow, and wind! Homes easily defended from marauding foes! What a new +life of ease for the persecuted people! One by one families would climb +the cliffs, until at last a great population looked down from their +eyries in certain gorges of Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, where +only eagles or mountain-goats might be supposed to dwell. + +The table-lands above the ravines were, as a rule, fairly fertile, and +the Indians were able to grow maize, or Indian corn. When they were +obliged to give up the roving life of hunters, animal food must have +become a scarce luxury. + +Being an industrious race, they were not long content to live in the +rugged caverns as nature made them, but with wonderful labour built +walls, floors, and roofs, to make their homes more comfortable, and to +keep out the icy winds which howled up the canyons. The marvel is how +they reached their homes, which are often at great heights; and one +shudders to think of how many stray babies, clambering children, and +nervous folk of all ages, must have stumbled and fallen over the rocky +platforms to certain death. Every drop of water, every bit of fuel, and +all food of every kind, must have been carried up those awful +precipices, usually on ladders placed from ledge to ledge, and drawn up +after the climber. That any people should choose such dwelling-places +shows how unsafe life down in the plains must have been, and later on we +will try to see how far the Cave Indians contrived to secure peace and +comfort in their cliff houses. + +HELENA HEATH. + + + + +PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS. + +10.--OBLIQUE PUZZLE. + + +Each word is one letter shorter than the one before. The initials, read +downwards, give the name of a South American city. + + 1. The highest degree of respect. + 2. Bitter hatred. + 3. A common and useful covering for the floor. + 4. A model of excellence. + 5. A woman's name. + 6. A sharp instrument. + 7. A curved structure. + 8. Congealed water. + 9. An adverb. +10. A vowel. + +C. J. B. + + +11.--CHARADE. + +My first is thick and dark; my second is connected with the sea; my +whole is an acid concrete salt, or some one keen and irritable. + +C. J. B. + +[_Answers on page 263._] + + + + +ANSWER TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 195. + +9.--1. Wellington. + 2. Marlborough. + 3. Nelson. + 4. Blake. + 5. Shakespeare. + 6. Tennyson. + 7. Scott. + 8. Dickens. + 9. Elizabeth. + 10. Victoria. + +ANSWER TO 'WHAT AM I?' ON PAGE 214. + +Dun-dee. + + + + +DECEIVING THE HORSE. + + +An omnibus, in the course of its journey, had to be taken up a long and +toilsome hill. Frequently passengers, out of pity for the poor horse, +would get out at the bottom and walk up a part of the way, so as to +lighten its load. In time, the sagacious beast got to expect this, and +would sometimes stop of its own accord, as if to let them descend from +the vehicle. + +One day, a gentleman, travelling up the hill for the first time in this +conveyance, was much annoyed by the conductor frequently opening the +door, even when no one wanted to get out, and banging it close again. + +He inquired of the man what he meant by such conduct, when it was +explained that it was done to deceive the horse, which, each time the +door was banged, thought another passenger had alighted, and pulled away +with more will in consequence. + +H. B. S. + + + + +THE TEETH OF HYENAS. + + +Hyenas have stronger jaws than any other animals in the world. They have +a large tooth at each side of the upper jaw, which bites against the +keen edge of a tooth like it on the lower jaw, thus forming a pair of +shears sharp enough to cut paper and strong enough to crack the +thigh-bone of an ox. + +Hyenas live entirely on meat. A lion, on the contrary, eats a large +quantity of fresh grass when it can get it, and in captivity will lap +milk from a pan with as much greediness as an ordinary pussy. + + + + +THE GATE-KEEPER OF RAMBOUILLET. + + +It is difficult for Englishmen to realise the intense devotion which +Napoleon the First inspired in the hearts of his French soldiers. +Ambitious and utterly careless of human life as he undoubtedly was, +these men overlooked all this in their admiration for the victorious +General. + +As a rule, Napoleon certainly behaved as the Father of his soldiers, and +seemed to feel both with them and for them. Here is an account of the +way he cheered an old 'Sapeur' whom he find lying in the ward of a +military hospital. + +'How now, my friend?' said the Emperor, halting at the soldier's +bedside. 'You are one of my Sapeurs, I see! I thought that regiment +prided itself on never being ill?' + +'I am not ill, your Majesty!' said the soldier, proudly, as he saluted +his chief; 'but the doctor wants me to have my leg cut off, and I do not +wish it.' + +'Why not?' asked Napoleon. 'Are you, who have faced death so often, +afraid of an operation of a few minutes?' + +'Afraid, Sire!' said the man, with a quiet smile. 'Fear is not a disease +that attacks Sapeurs, as your Majesty knows; but if I change my leg of +flesh for a wooden stump, I shall never be able to return to the +regiment, and I would rather be buried entire than bit by bit.' + +'Where were you wounded?' asked the Emperor. + +'At Wagram, Sire.' + +'Have you received your medal?' + +'No, Sire,' said the soldier, eagerly. 'I was in the ambulance when you +distributed the medals.' + +'Suppose I were to give you the medal now?' said Napoleon, looking +fixedly at the soldier. + +'Oh, Sire!' said the man, almost leaping up in his delight. 'I should be +quite well then, I know.' + +'Well, then, I give it you,' said the Emperor: 'but on one condition: +you must let the surgeon cut off that leg.' + +'Just as you order me, Sire; if you wish my head cut off I am ready! +Only I can never serve you again, if I have a leg off.' + +'How do you know that, you foolish fellow?' replied the Emperor, +smiling. 'Make haste and get well, and I appoint you gate-keeper of my +castle of Rambouillet.' + +The soldier said no more. His heart was too full of joy and gratitude, +for that was indeed a post of honour. + +Some months later the Castle of Rambouillet had a new gate-keeper, an +old wooden-legged sergeant of Sapeurs, wearing the coveted medal on his +well-brushed uniform! + +X. + + + + +THE CASHMERE STAG. + + +India is rich in animals of the deer kind. To name only a few, there are +the Sambur, the beautiful Axis Deer, the small, but fierce, Hog Deer, +the Rusa Deer, the Bahrainga Deer, and the noble Cashmere Deer. The +habits of these animals are exceedingly varied. Some live upon the +hills, while others frequent the low lands and the jungles, and are +never seen upon the higher ground. Several of the species are nocturnal, +and are so rarely seen in the daytime that any one might think they were +scarce animals, although they are really very common. + +The Cashmere Stag or Deer is one of those which live on the high lands, +upon the slopes of the mountains of Cashmere, Nepal, and the countries +to the north-west of India. It prefers forests and well-wooded country, +in which it finds shelter and seclusion. It rarely descends to the lower +and more open country, and it is in fact so retiring and alert that it +is seldom met with. By day it hides itself in the woods, but in the +early morning it is tempted forth to drink at the lakes and pools which +lie upon the skirts of the forest. It changes its pasture-grounds with +the seasons, climbing the mountains in summer, probably to enjoy the +cool, fresh air of the upper regions, and returning to lower ground in +winter in search of food. + +The male is a fine animal, with large branching horns, somewhat like +those of our own stag or red deer, but not quite so large. In a fine and +well-developed specimen the horns will often display sixteen branching +points. The general colour of the stag is a rather dark grey or brown, +with patches of yellowish white upon the haunches, and for some little +distance along the back. The neck of the male is covered with longer +hair somewhat resembling a mane. The female is very similar in colour to +the male, but she is smaller, and has neither horns nor mane. + +The Cashmere stag is sometimes called the Nepal stag, and it has also +other names, mostly derived from the localities where it is found. Many +of these are native names conferred upon it by the inhabitants of +various parts of the north of India, and when they are taken up and +repeated by sportsmen and travellers they prove very confusing to +naturalists, who cannot always be sure that they all refer to one +animal. + +All stags are very attentive to their mates, and the least cry of the +female will draw her companion to her side. A hunter once saw a fine +male come running up at the cry of his mate, which had just been shot. +The poor thing was dead, but the stag stayed by her body, and would not +be frightened away until he was quite sure there was no life left in +it. + +[Illustration: "The stag stayed by his mate's body."] + +[Illustration: The Black Leopard.] + + + + +THE BLACK LEOPARD. + + +There are few animals more beautiful than the leopard, which inhabits +India and Africa. Looking at its handsome fur, we cannot fail to be +struck with the regular way in which the black spots or rings are +arranged upon the reddish-yellow ground, and how regularly they vary in +shape and size in different parts of the body. + +Besides the ordinary spotted leopard there is, however, a black leopard. +It is found in India and some other countries of southern Asia where the +ordinary leopard lives, and seems most common upon the high lands. It is +very much scarcer than the ordinary leopard, and is, indeed, very rare. +The natives of India have a great dread of it, for they think it is more +cunning, more ferocious and stronger than the spotted leopard, which is +one of the fiercest and most active of the flesh-eating animals. It +climbs trees and sports among the branches with all the agility of a +cat. It is as ferocious as the tiger, and though not so large, its +activity and strength make it a very dangerous foe. + +Though the black leopard is different in colour from the ordinary +leopard, it is in other respects very similar, and naturalists now +regard it as only a variety of the spotted leopard. After getting +together all the information which they can about the colours of the +leopard and similar animals, they have come to the conclusion that the +leopard family has a tendency to turn to black. This does not mean that +full-grown spotted leopards sometimes turn black quickly, but that the +cubs are occasionally born black, or grow dark soon after they are born. + +The leopard is also known to show other variations of colour, but +examples of these are very much rarer than black ones. All animals are +liable to occasional variations of colour, which cannot be +satisfactorily explained. In the leopard these variations occur more +frequently than in most other animals, and the colour is nearly always +black. + + + + +THE POET CRABBE'S FIRST SCHOOL. + + +Crabbe, the poet, whose _Village Tales_ were the delight of a past +generation, was sent to a boarding school whilst still so young that he +had not even learnt to dress himself. + +When he awoke in the morning after his first night away from home, he +saw the other boys dressing, and was much disturbed. He whispered to his +bedfellow (for all schoolboys slept at least two in a bed in those +days), 'Master George, can you put on your shirt? for--for I'm afraid I +cannot!' + +This school, though only for small boys, seems to have been a very +severe one, for Crabbe and his friends were punished for simply 'playing +at soldiers.' He was condemned, with his friends, to be shut in a large +dog-kennel, known by the terrible name of 'the Black Hole.' Little +Crabbe was the first to be pushed in, and the rest were crowded in on +top of him, till at last the kennel was so full of boys that they were +all but suffocated. Crabbe in vain cried out that he could not breathe, +but no notice was taken of him until, in despair, he bit the lad next +to him violently in the hand. + +'Crabbe is dying! Crabbe is dying!' roared the sufferer, and the +sentinel outside at length opened the door, and allowed the boys to rush +into the air. + +Crabbe, when telling this story to his children in after years, always +added, 'A minute more and I must have died!' + +X. + + + + +MY PICTURE-BOOK. + + + Oh, what a pretty scene is this, + Of meadow, hill, and brook, + I wish that I was small enough + To get inside the book. + Upon this stream I'd launch my boat; + I'd pluck this willow wand; + Then round that reedy curve I'd float, + And past the mill beyond-- + If I were only small enough. + + Then where the meadows are so green + I'd moor my boat again, + And overtake that little boy + Who's trotting down the lane. + I'd ask him to be friends with me, + I'd take him by the hand, + And through my pretty picture we + Would go to fairy-land-- + If I were only small enough. + + + + +ULRICH'S OPPORTUNITY. + + +The Thirty Years' War was raging, and Europe was torn by bitter party +strife. All over the country men ranged themselves under their +respective leaders and fought grimly to the death. + +At the time of this story, the little German town of Bamburg had +remained loyal to the Emperor Ferdinand, and had in consequence been +closely besieged for many weeks by the troops of the Elector of Saxony. +The flag still floated from the tower of the Town Hall, and a bold front +was shown to the enemy; but in reality the inhabitants were in sore +straits, when news reached them that if they could hold out one week +longer help would come. + +A council was summoned, and all who could bear arms were called to hear +the glad news and to form fresh plans for the further defence of the +town. Shrewd and cautious advice was sorely needed, and none was fitter +to give it than stout old Karl Sneider, the keeper of the water-gate. So +to-night he was not in his place in the little watch-tower that looked +out over the broad river that flowed by the wall of the little town. + +His watch was taken by Oscar Halbau, the clock-maker, who, although he +was not a Bamburg man by birth, had lived there so long that the good +people had come to regard him as one of themselves. Upstairs, in a +quaint little room with sloping roofs and curious corners, lay Karl +Sneider's crippled son Ulrich. + +Usually bright and cheerful, to-night Ulrich was sadly depressed. To-day +was his fifteenth birthday, and were not boys of fifteen allowed to take +their places in the council? Caspar Shenk and Peter and Johann Hofman +had run up to see him on their way to the Rathhaus, and had joined with +him in begging his father to allow him to go, too, for with the help of +his crutch and a friendly arm he could make his way to the Cathedral, +and the Town Hall was not much further away. + +'Nay, my son,' said his father firmly, 'a council is not like a service +at church. Stay quietly here, and when I return I will tell thee all.' + +He spoke cheerfully, but his heart ached to see the boy's disappointment, +and when the other lads had gone he bent tenderly over him, saying, +'Only wait patiently, my son; thy turn will come, bringing the bit of +work Providence means thee to do. There is work for every one if only we +wait quietly for it.' + +Long after he had gone, Ulrich thought over these words. They might be +true, but it seemed as if there could never be work for him to do. His +life seemed bounded by his couch and his chair by the window. Sometimes +he went out, it was true, but at best it was a slow and painful +business, and lately he had fancied the children laughed to themselves +when he passed. + +He was roused from these sad thoughts by something coming sharply +against the window. He listened, and the sound was repeated again. +Someone was throwing stones at the glass. Who could it be? and what +could they want at that hour? + +Stretching out his hand for his crutch, he moved softly across the room +and peered out. There was just enough light to enable him to see a boat +moored to the steps which ran up to the gate. He opened the window +gently, and was about to speak when he heard the clockmaker's voice +saying cautiously, 'Is that you, Captain?' + +Ulrich knew then that the stranger had struck his window by mistake; +clearly it was the guard-room window he had aimed at, and if that were +so, why had the stranger chosen the very night that his father was away, +and how did Oscar know him? As quickly as he could he put out his lamp +and listened breathlessly. Oscar was speaking again. + +'All is going well--better than I dared to hope. The fools think I am as +loyal as themselves, and they have left me to guard the gate. The +council will not be over till near midnight, and in half an hour the +moon will be gone. I will open the gate when it is quite dark and admit +your men, and the game will then be in our own hands.' + +'You are a good fellow, Oscar, and shall be remembered,' replied the +stranger. 'To-morrow, when the town is ours, your name shall be on every +one's lips, and your pockets shall be filled with gold.' + +He then turned back to his boat, and Ulrich leant back in his chair sick +with horror. To think that here, in his father's house, sat a traitor, +and that unless help came soon the town would be lost! + +What could he do? It was useless for him to crawl downstairs and +confront Oscar. He had only to carry him back to his room and lock the +door to ensure safety. It was no less useless to cry for help, for a +long row of warehouses separated the guard-room from any other dwelling. +Oh! if he had only been like other boys, how easily he could have +stolen downstairs, and rushed to the Town Hall and given the alarm! It +seemed absolutely impossible for him to do it as he was. He had never +gone downstairs alone in his life; his father had always been there to +help him; even if he managed to crawl down he could not take his crutch +with him, and he could not walk without it. No, clearly it was +impossible. + +And yet, as the slow minutes dragged away, and as he thought of the +shame it would be if the town were lost, he decided to make the attempt. +Slowly he crawled across the room and down the narrow, twisted +staircase. He was trembling from head to foot, and his breath seemed to +come in great gasps. What if Oscar heard him? His door was ajar, and the +lamp threw a ray of light on the landing outside; but Oscar was deep in +his plans, and did not notice the black shadow that moved slowly across +the lamp-lit space. + +At last Ulrich was outside, and he breathed more freely in the open air. +If he had only had his crutch now, things might all have gone well, but +how was he to crawl along the long Breite Strasse, and round the corner +and up the still longer Gast Strasse to the Town Hall? His heart failed. +Still, he could only try his best. Perhaps he might meet some one.... + +Alas! all who were not at the council were safely in their houses, and +there was no one to notice the bent figure slowly dragging itself along, +or to hear the feeble knocks as he tried to reach the great brass +knockers, which were just too high for him to reach. + +At last he came to the Cathedral, where he sometimes attended service, +but he had his father's strong arm to lean on then, while now he was +alone and quite exhausted. He could never reach the Town Hall in time; +but the church door was open, perhaps some one was inside who could take +the message. But the church was closed; it was only the porch which was +open. + +With a sob of despair the boy entered and sank down on a low bench by +the door. After all it was no use; he could go no further, and even now +the traitor might be opening the gates. + +As Ulrich raised his hand to wipe away the big tears that would fall, he +struck something soft hanging above his head; in the darkness he felt +it. It was a rope. + +Instantly his strength came back with a rush. There was hope yet! Was +not the bell of the Cathedral the loudest in the town, and was it not +used as an alarm in cases of fire? He grasped the rope and pulled with +all his might. It was hard work, but soon the sound came--crash! crash! +crash! + +That would surely rouse the town. And so it did. Soon hasty footsteps +were heard, and a watchman ran in, frantically waving his lantern. + +'Where is it? What is it?--a fire? Speak, boy!' but Ulrich seemed to +have lost his tongue. It was not until several others had gathered round +him that he managed to gasp out, 'The water-gate--quick! Oscar is +letting in the soldiers!' + +The words flew like wild-fire, and off the crowd rushed--men, boys, +burgomaster, and watchmen, just in time to capture the traitor and to +drive back the enemy. + +[Illustration: "'What is it?--a fire? Speak, boy!'"] + +So his father had been right after all, and Ulrich's bit of work had +been ready for him, and nearer than he thought. And he did his best, and +doing his best saved the town. For help did come, and Ulrich was thanked +by the Emperor himself, who put him under the care of his own doctor. +The doctor, although he was not able quite to cure him, did him so much +good that he was able in the course of time to walk without a crutch. + +E. W. GRIERSON. + +[Illustration: + +Fig. 1.--Aphis, showing "Tracheae" (greatly magnified). +Fig. 2.--"Tracheal Filaments" of Aphis (greatly magnified). +Fig. 3.--"Spiracles" of Water Beetle (greatly magnified). +Fig. 4.--Section of Crayfish, showing gills (magnified).] + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +VII.--HOW INSECTS BREATHE + + +Animal life cannot be sustained without breathing, though, strange as it +may seem, many of the lower animals have no special breathing organs. By +breathing, we mean supplying the body with the life-giving oxygen +contained in the air. Animals which live in the water breathe by taking +in the oxygen held in solution in the water. + +In the simplest animals which live in water, the body is only a small +'blob' of jelly, so small that the oxygen passes directly into the body. +The bodies of some worms are so delicate that the oxygen easily passes +through the outer layers and mixes with the blood within. + +In more complicated animals this life-giving gas is conveyed all over +the body by means of the blood, which is brought into contact with the +water, or the air, by structures known as gills. In the crayfish, for +example, the gills are placed above and rise from the bases of the legs, +being saved from injury by a broad shield lying behind the head. (In +fig. 4 this shield has been cut away so as to show the gills, marked G, +which it really covers.) By means of the circulation of the blood, the +crayfish breathes. This blood is carried to the gills and bathed by a +constant stream of fresh water, which enters behind the covering and +shield, and passes forwards till it comes out on each side of the mouth. +The blood, thus refreshed by the oxygen in the water, is carried again +all over the body, and in its course loses more and more oxygen, and +becomes more and more charged with poisonous gases, which are got rid of +on the return of the blood to the gills. The letter S in this figure +marks the stump of the leg, which, for the sake of clearness, has been +cut off. + +In ourselves, the work of breathing, or of purifying the blood, is done +by means of the lungs. The lungs are large, spongy organs in the chest, +and are continually supplied with fresh air, which passes in through the +nose and mouth and down the wind-pipe, by what we call the act of +breathing. + +Insects take in oxygen in a way quite different from that of the +crayfish or mankind. In some larval insects, which live in water, as in +some worms, the body is so thin that no special breathing organs are +necessary; others breathe by means of gills like those of the crayfish, +but arranged differently--sometimes along each side, and sometimes at +the tail end of the body. But in the ordinary adult insect the work of +breathing is carried on by means of a system of tubes, known as +'tracheae,' which run all over the body. Into these tubes the air is +drawn through a number of holes on the surface of the body, called +'spiracles,' or breathing pores. The tracheae or tubes are everywhere +bathed by the blood, which is thus constantly 'aerated,' or kept fresh. + +One very remarkable thing about these tubes is the way they are kept +open. A horny, spirally-twisted thread runs through them, and thus they +are prevented from closing up by pressure, or by the bending of the body +or limbs. In fig. 2, this thread is marked C. This plan of keeping open +the passage in a tube likely to be blocked by sudden bending, has been +imitated by mankind, in making rubber gas tubing, for example. As a +plain rubber tube is easily bent, the gas would be in constant danger of +being cut off. To prevent this, Nature's patent is usually imitated, and +a coil of wire is placed along the inside of the tube. Thus, a sharp +bend, such as would instantly obstruct the passage of the gas, is +prevented. + +The openings at the end of the breathing tubes, on the surface of the +insect's body, are known, as we have said, as 'spiracles,' or +'stigmata.' They can be closed at will by special muscles, and, to +prevent dust from getting into the tube, the rim of each spiracle has a +more or less complicated fringe or strainer. In fig. 3 the spiracle is +shown open, the opening being marked by the letter O. When closed the +fringes interlock like clasped fingers. + +Fig. 1 shows the position of the breathing tubes in the aphis or green +fly. The spiracles or pores are marked O, the breathing tubes T. + +Some insects which live in water, such as the water-beetle, breathe air +in the same way as their relatives who live on land. To do this they +have to come frequently to the surface of the water to take in fresh +supplies of air. In the great Dyticus water-beetle this is done in a +curious way. The creature, rising to the surface, first thrusts its tail +up into the air, and then bending it downwards, lets the air rush in to +fill the space between the body and the upper wing-cases. This done, the +tail is pressed back again, and the beetle returns to the depths, where +the imprisoned air is taken in through the pores into the tubes. + +Besides the system of tubes just described, many insects possess a +wonderful system of air-cells, which give extra help in breathing during +flight. These air-cells are largest in insects which fly most. It is a +curious fact that birds have an exactly similar system; in many cases, +even the bones of birds are filled with air. It is generally stated, +indeed, that birds with the strongest flight have the most 'pneumatic' +bones. This not quite true, for the swallow, for example, has the long +bones of its wing filled with marrow, and not with air. Other birds, +however, like the storks, which fly much, and the owls and nightjars, +have all the bones in the body thus filled with air which they obtain +from the air-cells. + +W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S., A.L.S. + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 227._) + +CHAPTER V. + + +'I shall not be able to make plum duff,' said Charlie to Ping Wang, +about half an hour after his loss of the cook's recipe-book. + +'There will be a row if the men discover that you don't know how to make +it,' Ping Wang declared, looking serious. 'But never mind that, I have +something more important to tell you. Come aft; the skipper may be +listening to what we are saying.' + +They went right to the stem of the trawler and stood against the +gunwale. + +'No one can come near us without our seeing him,' Ping Wang said, and +continued at once: 'Could you swim a mile in a sea like this?' + +'I think so.' + +'Then let us desert the _Sparrow-hawk_ when darkness comes on.' + +'But where are we to swim to? I don't see any boats within five miles of +us.' + +Ping Wang pointed to the horizon, where the smoke of about half-a-dozen +trawlers was plainly visible. + +'That's a fleet of steam trawlers,' he declared, 'and before midnight we +shall be among them. When one comes within a mile or so of us, we will +jump overboard and swim to her. The skippers and men on the steam +trawlers belonging to the large fleets are splendid fellows, and when +they hear what a beast Skipper Drummond is, they won't send us back. We +must start as soon as possible after the midnight shoot, if there is any +trawler near us then.' + +'Suppose the skipper thinks we have fallen overboard and sends a boat to +rescue us?' + +'I don't think that he would take the trouble. But listen! I can hear +him on the bridge. Don't let him see us talking, in case he suspects +that we are up to something.' + +Ping Wang made his way for'ard, while Charlie returned to the galley and +busied himself in making buns. He had made some on the previous evening, +and although he did not enjoy the one that he tasted, the crew found no +fault with them. + +As he worked, he could see through the porthole that the fishing fleet +was drawing nearer. Some of the trawlers were miles away on the +starboard bow, and others on the port. + +Three hours later, when it was dark, Charlie counted twenty-five +trawlers, and every now and again he could see the mark-ship's rockets +piercing the night gloom. At ten o'clock he calculated that the nearest +trawler was quite three miles away, and judging from the course the +steamers were taking, he began to fear that it would come no nearer. But +shortly before the men turned out to haul, Ping Wang popped his head +into the galley and beckoned Charlie to come outside. + +'As soon as we have hauled and shot,' he said in a whisper, 'we must +slip off aft and dive overboard.' + +'We shall have to swim nearly two miles.' + +'Oh, no; nothing like that distance,' Ping Wang declared, and pointed to +a smack on the starboard side which Charlie had not noticed. + +'It's a mission ship,' Ping Wang explained, 'and she will lay to until +daybreak. By the time that we have hauled and shot we shall be abreast +of her, and won't have more than half a mile to swim. The skipper is +fast asleep, and, as the mate is not going to disturb him, we shall have +a quiet haul.' + +A few minutes later, Charlie and Ping Wang were tugging at the cold, +dripping net, delighted at the thought that it was the last time they +would have to perform such work. + +'It's a splendid haul,' the bo's'un called out to the mate, as the net +of fish was swung over the pound. + +As he spoke, the fish fell with a splash in the pound, and, the catch +being extra large, many of the bigger fish jumped out of the enclosure +and wriggled and slid about the deck. Charlie and another man picked +them up and tossed them back into the pound. + +As soon as the net had been let right out again, Charlie walked aft and +found that Ping Wang was already there. The other men had gone for'ard +to clean and pack the fish. + +'Are you ready?' Charlie asked. + +'Quite,' Ping Wang answered, and at once they began to undress. + +'I shall not take off my under-clothes,' Charlie said, 'in case the +water is very cold.' + +'Nor will I,' Ping Wang said. + +In a few moments both were ready. + +'Chinee!' the mate shouted from the bridge. 'Chinee!' the men in the +fish-pound repeated. + +'They have missed us,' Charlie said. 'I'm off.' He climbed on the +starboard gunwale, balanced himself for a moment and then dived into the +sea. Ping Wang was after him in an instant. + +Charlie saw the sailing-boat and made towards it. + +'Let us keep close together,' he said to Ping Wang, 'in case anything +should happen to either of us.' + +Ping Wang did not wish to waste his breath in talking, but showed that +he agreed with Charlie's suggestion by drawing closer to him. For a +time--they did not know for how long--they swam silently onwards, but +there was a big ocean swell, and often the ship for which they were +bound was completely hidden from their sight for some minutes. When they +did catch sight of her, they found that they were not making rapid +progress. They were still a long way from the ship, and when they had +been swimming for a good time, Ping Wang's courage began to fail him. + +'I shall never reach her,' he declared, 'I'm getting tired. It is all up +with me.' + +'Nonsense, man,' Charlie answered, swimming a little closer to him. +'Have a rest; float.' + +Ping Wang acted on Charlie's advice. + +'She was much farther from the _Sparrow-hawk_ than we thought,' Ping +Wang declared, when he had rested for a few moments. + +'You're right,' Charlie answered; 'but we shall reach her in ten minutes +at the latest.' + +Ping Wang, encouraged by what Charlie had said, turned over and resumed +swimming. + +For more than ten minutes they swam steadily onward without saying a +word, but still the sailing-boat was a long way from them, and Charlie +vowed to himself that never again would he attempt to judge distances at +sea. + +A few minutes later Ping Wang again turned on to his back. He did not +utter a word, but Charlie knew by his heavy breathing that he was nearly +exhausted. When he had lain there for some minutes he said, with a gasp, +'I will have one more try,' and started off again. But when he had swum +a few yards he said, feebly, 'I can't reach her. Don't you bother about +me. Look after yourself.' + +'I won't go aboard her without you,' Charlie declared, and kept a closer +watch on his companion. Soon he saw that Ping Wang, if left to himself, +would be drowned. + +'Turn on your back and lie still,' he said, 'and I'll tow you.' + +Very fortunately Charlie had often practised the art of saving life from +drowning, and therefore had no difficulty in supporting Ping Wang, who +had the presence of mind to lie still. In a few minutes the Chinaman +recovered somewhat, and Charlie, seeing the improvement, said, 'If you +can support yourself for a few moments I'll hail the ship.' + +'All right,' Ping Wang replied, and Charlie, letting him go, turned over +and shouted towards the sailing ship, 'What ho, there!' + +For two or three minutes he waited for an answering shout, but none +came. + +'What ho! what ho!' he sang out, and almost immediately he saw some +lights moving about on the deck of the ship. + +'Help, help!' he shouted with all his strength. + +'Coming,' was the faint reply that reached him, and almost at the same +moment he noticed that a boat was being lowered. + +'We shall be picked up in a few minutes,' he said to Ping Wang, and the +good news had such a reviving effect upon the Chinaman that he turned +over and began to swim again. + +'Lie still,' Charlie shouted, knowing that his companion's strength +would otherwise soon expire. + +Ping Wang obeyed instantly. + +'Where are you?' the men in the boat called out. + +'Here,' Charlie answered, and so that the boat might not have much +difficulty in finding them, he hailed her every few moments. + +Sometimes he caught sight of her on the top of a wave, and then he would +see nothing more of her for quite a minute. But at last she reached +them. + +'Take my friend first,' Charlie sang out to the man who was holding +aloft a big lantern to get a look at them. + +In a moment the boat was brought alongside Ping Wang, who was fished out +in a state of collapse. Charlie, almost unaided, scrambled in, and at +once busied himself in striving to revive his companion. Fortunately he +was successful, and by the time the boat reached the ship, Ping Wang was +not much the worse for his long and unpleasant swim. + +(_Continued on page 242._) + +[Illustration: "Ping Wang was fished out in a state of collapse."] + +[Illustration: "Charlie sprang upwards, and climbed aboard."] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 239._) + +CHAPTER VI. + + +The three men who had rescued Charlie and Ping Wang were not talkative, +and beyond saying, 'That's all right,' when they were thanked for their +assistance, scarcely said a word. The skipper of the sailing ship was, +however, very different. + +'Get down below, boys, and put on some dry togs,' he exclaimed genially, +as Charlie and Ping Wang scrambled over the gunwale. 'There are chests +full of them.' + +The fugitives obeyed him willingly, but as Charlie put on the dry things +provided for him, he took stock of the saloon, and was astonished at +what he saw. Pictures of prize-fighters and race-horses hung on the +walls, and at the far end of the saloon there was a sort of bar, behind +which he noted some black bottles. + +'Surely this can't be a mission ship,' Charlie said, in an undertone, to +Ping Wang. + +'It isn't what I expected to find on one,' Ping Wang answered. 'However, +we shall soon know, for here comes the skipper.' + +'Well, how are you feeling now?' the skipper inquired boisterously. + +'Better,' Charlie answered, wondering what his nationality was, for +although he spoke English fluently, he was evidently a foreigner. + +'That's good,' the skipper replied, 'but why didn't you tip me the wink +that you were coming over to us? I would have had the boat hanging +around for you. Do any of the other fellows want to come aboard?' + +'No, they have all turned in by now.' + +'What a crew they must be. Who is your skipper?' + +'Drummond, of the _Sparrow-hawk_.' + +'I know him. He passed a bad five-shilling piece on me the last time he +was aboard this craft.' + +'Will he come aboard to-morrow do you think?' Ping Wang asked, with +difficulty concealing his anxiety. + +'Not likely. I told him that if ever he set foot on the _Lily_, I would +go for him. However, we don't want to talk about him. What are you going +to drink?' + +'Tea or coffee, I don't mind which.' + +The skipper threw back his head and laughed heartily, as if Charlie had +said something that was witty. 'Do you really mean it?' he asked at +length. + +'I do.' + +'Well!' the skipper gasped, and was evidently overcome with surprise. + +After a few minutes' silence his spirits revived. + +'I'll send you some tea down before long,' he said, and then went on +deck without another word. + +'Do you know what this ship is?' Charlie asked as soon as he was gone. + +'If this is not a pleasure-boat, I do not know what it is,' Ping Wang +answered. + +'It's a coper.' + +'A coper! What is that?' + +'I thought every one in the North Sea knew.' + +'This is only my second voyage, and your countrymen do not talk to me as +freely as if I were an Englishman. What is a coper?' + +'It is a boat that sails about the North Sea to sell drink and tobacco +to our fishermen. She flies a flag to show that she has tobacco for +sale, and when the men come aboard her, they are tempted to drink, just +as we were a few minutes ago. As a rule the poor fellows do drink, and +if their money is not all spent by the time that they are intoxicated, +they are cheated at cards or robbed. I am very much afraid that we have +not bettered ourselves by leaving the _Sparrow-hawk_, for if the skipper +of the coper finds that we have money, even though we neither drink nor +gamble, he will be anxious to get rid of us.' + +A few minutes later a boy brought down to them two mugs of what was +supposed to be tea. + +'What awful stuff,' Charlie exclaimed after tasting it. 'One sip is +quite enough for me.' + +'There must be something besides sugar and milk in it,' Ping Wang +declared. + +'That is very likely. The skipper hopes that it will get in our heads +without our knowing that we have been drinking intoxicants. We will +upset the rascal's plans by not drinking any more of the tea.' + +In about a quarter of an hour the skipper returned. + +'Well, boys, how are you getting on?' he exclaimed. 'Have some more +tea?' + +'No, thank you,' Charlie replied. 'We haven't drunk this. There's +something about the taste that we don't like.' + +'It's first-class tea. I've never had any complaints about it until now. +I'm very sorry that you don't like it, for you need something warming +after your long swim. But look here, if you are tee-totalers, what did +you come aboard the _Lily_ for?' + +'We made a mistake. We mistook her for another boat.' + +The skipper looked at Charlie searchingly. 'Did you think she was a +revenue cutter?' he asked. + +'Oh, no; we mistook her for a mission ship.' + +Now, coper skippers have the same hatred for mission ships that they +have for revenue cutters, for the former, by selling tobacco at low +prices, keep the North Sea fishermen away from the copers, and so have +spoiled their traffic in intoxicant drinks. + +'You thought she was a mission ship, did you?' the skipper growled. +'Well, you made a fine mistake.' + +'We know that now,' Charlie replied. + +'Then why are you sticking here? Jump overboard, and swim back to the +_Sparrow-hawk_.' + +'I should be drowned,' Ping Wang declared. + +'Well, that wouldn't be much of a loss. There are too many Chinamen +already.' + +'Look here, skipper,' Charlie interrupted, anxious to prevent a quarrel, +'I have a proposal to make. My friend and I left the _Sparrow-hawk_ +because the skipper was a wretched little bully. I suggest that we stay +here, as passengers, until we meet a boat for Grimsby that will take us +aboard.' + +'You will have to pay me before you leave the _Lily_.' + +'I'll do so, willingly, unless your charges are unreasonable.' + +'Will you pay in advance?' + +'Certainly not; but I'll settle up with you every evening.' + +'Then hand over sixpence for those two cups of tea.' + +'Sixpence!' Charlie answered, 'Why, you are charging as if you had put +brandy in them. I'll give you threepence.' + +Charlie took his belt from his pocket, and, as he undid the pouch +attached to it, in which he kept his money, the skipper caught sight of +three or four sovereigns. + +'Well,' he said, as he pocketed the three pennies which Charlie gave +him, 'I ought to let Skipper Drummond know that you are aboard; but, as +I owe him a grudge, I won't. I haven't any spare bunks for you, so you +must sleep on the cushions here.' + +Charlie and Ping Wang were far from considering that a hardship, for the +coper's saloon was a little palace compared with the _Sparrow-hawk's_ +foc's'le. + +'Well,' the skipper continued, 'I'm going to shut up for the night.' + +He drew a sliding-door down over the bottles, and locked it, and left +them. As soon as he had gone they lay down and, finding the saloon +cushions fairly comfortable, were soon asleep. They awoke about seven +o'clock and, going on deck immediately, found that during the night the +_Sparrow-hawk_ had steamed away. The coper was, however, in the midst of +a busy scene; for the stream-trawlers belonging to the fleet which +Charlie and Ping Wang had seen on the previous day had closed in, and +were busy sending their boxes of fish aboard the steam-carrier that was +waiting to hurry off with them to Grimsby. The fish was conveyed from +the trawlers to the carriers in small, but strongly built, rowing-boats, +and some of these, after getting rid of their load, came to the _Lily_. +As the men sprang over the gunwale on to the deck, the skipper greeted +each with a hearty 'What cheer, sonny?' + +Many of the fishermen were easily prevailed upon to go below and drink. +Some indulged in one glass, and then hurried off to their ships; but two +men remained in the saloon long after the others had departed. When they +had been there for half an hour their skipper blew his siren loudly, as +a command for them to return at once. Each came on deck quickly; but +they were intoxicated to an extent that surprised Charlie, considering +the short time they had been on the _Lily_. + +'They will never get back to their ship,' Charlie declared to the +skipper of the coper. + +'That is their look-out, not mine,' the skipper answered, and turned +away, evidently not caring what happened to them. + +The _Lily_, in common with all the North Sea trawlers, had no ladder by +which men quitting the ship could descend into the small boat. The +departing man has to hang from the gunwale until the small boat is +lifted high on a wave, and then he drops quickly into it. A moment's +hesitation may result in his falling into the sea, sometimes with the +risk of being crushed between the ship and the small boat. Charlie had +good reason, therefore, for thinking that the two poor fellows might +meet with an accident, but the men themselves did not consider that +there was any danger. + +'We shall be all right,' one of them answered noisily, when Charlie +advised them to be careful, and the man who spoke certainly dropped into +the small boat as easily as if he were sober. The other man, however, +hung to the gunwale longer than he should have done, and, consequently, +when he did release his hold he had a long way to drop. He landed with +both feet on one of the seats, and after struggling for a moment to +balance himself, fell backwards into the sea, but, fortunately, not +between the boat and the ship. His mate broke into a laugh, but made no +attempt to rescue him. Possibly he thought that the man could swim, but +it was clear to Charlie that he could not, and that unless he went to +his assistance he would be drowned. So he pulled off his coat and dived +into the sea. He came to the surface just beside the man, and, seizing +him, pushed him along until they reached the boat, into which the now +sober fisherman quickly scrambled. In the meanwhile the other man, +seeing Charlie dive to the assistance of his shipmate, had come to the +conclusion that he also ought to do something. He dived in, but in +consequence of the muddled state of his head, swam in the wrong +direction, and by the time that it dawned on him that he had made a +mistake his mate had been rescued by Charlie. + +Being a good swimmer, the man regained the boat easily, and Charlie was +glad to see that the water had sobered him as effectually as it had his +mate. + +'You've had a very narrow escape,' Charlie said to the man whom he had +rescued. 'Now take my advice, both of you, and don't you ever again set +foot on a coper. If you want tobacco, go to a mission ship.' + +Charlie got on the seat as he finished speaking, and as the little boat +was lifted on a big wave he sprang upwards, grasped the _Lily's_ gunwale +and climbed aboard, leaving the men to whom he had denounced copers to +wonder why he was on one. Loud blasts from their trawler's siren +instantly drove all thoughts of Charlie's action from their minds, and +rowing hard they worked their way back to their ship, where they +received a lecture from the skipper which they did not forget that +voyage. + +(_Continued on page 253._) + + + + +ALL PRIME MINISTERS. + + +Many years ago there was a clever and kind doctor at a Paris hospital +where the patients were of the poorest class. The skill of this doctor +somehow reached the ears of the then Premier of France, who, being about +to undergo a very serious operation, sent for this doctor to perform it. + +'You must not expect, doctor,' said the Prime Minister to the surgeon as +he entered the room to arrange for the operation, 'to treat me in the +same rough manner as if I were one of your poor wretches at the +hospital.' + +'Sir,' answered the doctor with dignity, 'every one of those poor +wretches, as you are pleased to call them, is a Prime Minister in my +eyes.' + +X. + +[Illustration: "'I saw it first--'tis mine--let go!'"] + + + + +DON'T BEGIN. + + + Two little dogs, one summer's day, + Who tired of play had grown, + Discovered lying in their way + A most attractive bone. + + 'I saw it first--'tis mine--let go!' + The one in anger cried; + 'I shan't, how dare you say 'tis so,' + The other one replied. + + And so no doubt they wrangled on, + Although I cannot tell + Where those two little dogs have gone, + Or how the fight befell. + + But quarrels, as we know, take two, + And some one must give in, + So far the wisest thing to do + Is simply--don't begin. + +C. D. B. + +[Illustration: A Scene in Clissold Park.] + + + + +THE PARKS OF LONDON.--II. + + +In the days of Queen Bess the pretty village of Stoke Newington was a +pleasant object for a country walk of about three miles from the City +boundary of London. The village lay amid dense woods whence came its +name--Stoe being the Saxon word for wood, and Stoke Newington meaning +the new town in the wood. Its derivation shows what an old place it is, +and we may picture to ourselves how, ages ago, the dwellers within the +City walls would joyfully leave London, on holidays, by the Moor Gate, +and wend their way northward to the shady trees and grassy banks of the +roadway known as the 'Green Lanes'--names which, like Stoke Newington, +still survive. Along that road the royal chariot of Queen Elizabeth +might occasionally be met coming from the Tower; for at Stoke Newington, +in a mansion beside the church, dwelt some of the Dudley family, whom +she delighted to honour. + +A story is told how, when her Majesty was the persecuted Princess +Elizabeth, living under the stern rule of her sister, Queen Mary, she +paid a stolen visit to London to see how Court matters were progressing. +The Dudleys befriended her, and went so far as to hide her in a brick +tower in the Park, communicating with their home by a secret passage. To +judge by what history tells of Queen Mary, these devoted friends ran no +slight risk, and Queen Elizabeth, in later years, did her best to repay +their kindness. We read that, on one visit after her accession, she took +a jewel of great value from her dress and presented it to the daughter +of the house, Lady Anne Dudley. One avenue off the Park is still known +as Queen Elizabeth's Walk, and tradition says she was fond of pacing up +and down there with the master of the house. + +The next time we hear much of Stoke Newington Park, it was in the hands +of Mr. Jonathan Hoare, one of the founders of the great banking house of +that name; and, later still, it was rented from the Ecclesiastical +Commissioners by one of the Crawshay family, then known as 'the iron +princes' of Wales. His lease set forth that he was to pay the sum of one +hundred and nine pounds a year rent, with one good, fat turkey, the +latter probably appearing at the annual dinner of his landlords. For +this consideration he was allowed to call house and land after his own +name, but was forbidden to cut down timber. Mr. Crawshay's tenancy +closed romantically with the incident which won the place its present +title. + +He had two fair daughters, whom no doubt he wished to see married to +rich and noble husbands. Great, therefore, was his anger when he found +that one of them had given her affections to the curate of the parish, +Mr. Clissold by name. Mr. Clissold was forthwith forbidden to set foot +within Crawshay Farm again. To ensure this, the walls of the place were +made higher, and the hard-hearted parent expressed his firm resolve of +shooting any messenger who tried to carry letters secretly. How long +this state of affairs lasted does not appear, but it was ended by the +death of Mr. Crawshay. Then the curate and his hardly-won bride became +tenants of the mansion, and changed its name to Clissold Park or Place. + +As Clissold Park it was bought from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for +ninety-six thousand pounds, and formally opened by Lord Rosebery in +1889. + +Perhaps the greatest charm of this particular park lies in its evident +old age--trees, turf, and the disused mansion all bear witness that it +is no newly planted recreation ground, but a noble relic of the days of +old, with a stately dignity all its own. + +A number of deer enclosed in the middle of the park prove that these +pretty creatures are not always shy. A family of kittens could not be +less afraid of the admiring crowd which watches them. At the same time +the deer were presented to the park, a number of guinea-pigs were also +introduced, and they still flourish in their cosy enclosure, giving +endless delight to the children of the neighbourhood. + +The beauty of the park is greatly increased by the waters of the New +River, which wind in and out of the grounds as well as round them, +although the charm of the stream is somewhat spoilt by a close iron +fencing, walling in the water on both sides. This, however, appears to +be a necessity, to protect the numerous fish from the keenness of +would-be fishermen. + +Bridges cross the river in many places, and two lakes of some size, +studded with wooded islets, afford homes for swans, ducks, and other +water-fowl. Near the mansion there is a bandstand, and all about the +grounds there are seats and rustic shelters for the elders, whilst the +young folk and children are making merry with games. + +In the spring and autumn a very favourite place for basking in the sun +is the terrace before the old house, in part of which refreshments are +provided. Some of the views in the park are exceedingly pretty, +especially in the direction of the deer park, looking towards the +mansion, where the old parish church stands out against the trees, +whilst the fine open tower of a new church, with a graceful spire, rises +above the green foliage. + +Stoke Newington has been the home of various celebrated men: John +Howard, the philanthropist, who did so much to alleviate the horrors of +prison-life; Defoe, whom we all love for the sake of _Robinson Crusoe_; +Dr. Watts, author of many of our best-known hymns, among the number. + +It is pleasant to know that the leafy walk of the Green Lanes is still +an attractive one for Londoners, although the mossy banks of former days +have long been lined with handsome houses, and though a wide expanse of +densely populated town lies between Clissold Park and the street still +known as London Wall, whence the Moor Gate, with all its companion +portals, have long vanished. + + + + +HE SET THE EXAMPLE. + + +A gentleman was once entertaining his friends at a grand dinner. He was +a sad boaster, and was often guilty of describing deeds that he had done +when an officer in the army, which those who knew him well felt sure +were greatly exaggerated. He was in the midst of some such anecdote when +the butler brought him word that a man wished to see him. + +'Tell him I am engaged with my friends, and can see no one,' said the +gentleman, pompously. + +The butler retired, but soon came back to say the man was most urgent in +wishing to speak to the gentleman, and said he had been in his regiment +at a famous battle, where he owed his life to the officer. + +'Show him in! show him in!' said the host, much gratified. 'This good +fellow says I saved his life at X----,' he added, turning to his guests +as the old soldier came in. 'How was it?' he went on, 'for I am sure I +forget; in the heat of battle one does brave things almost +unconsciously.' + +'It was like this, your Honour,' said the soldier: 'I owed my life to +you, for I certainly should never have thought of running away if you +had not set me the example!' + + + + +A PEEP AT NORTHERN ITALY. + + +It is comparatively easy now to run over to Switzerland, and through the +lovely scenery of the St. Gothard Pass, to the plains of sunny Italy; +but this land of light and song is very little known to English boys and +girls. + +Of all the lovely lakes that reflect the deep blue of the summer skies, +none is more beautiful than Lake Lugano, although Como is larger and +Maggiore has a charm of its own. The town of Lugano stands at one end of +the lake. It is pretty and bright, with many things to interest and +amuse; but it is in the villages dotted along the south side of the lake +that the real life of the people is to be seen. + +These villages are surrounded by vineyards. The grapes are gathered in +October, when the whole scene is very animated and gay. Every one--men, +women, children, even the ox-waggons of the country--is pressed into the +service, and the vineyards resound with songs and laughter. From these +grapes a red wine is made. It is the ambition of every peasant to own a +small vineyard and a boat. + +On the other side of the lake rises a range of hills covered almost to +the water's edge with deep green woods. In some places cliffs rise +between wood and water, and in these cliffs are many small natural +caves. These have been enlarged and enclosed with doors, so as to form +wine vaults, and in them is stored much of the wine made in the +district. + +On Sunday afternoons in summer the lake is alive with boats, each +holding a happy family party of father, mother, and children, and laden +with cakes made from _polenta_, and other dainties. They are all bound +for the caves, where a series of merry picnic parties is soon in +progress. + +The provisions are taken from the boats, the wine vault is opened with a +key, for all are kept carefully locked, and then the feast begins. Soon +the air is filled with song and laughter. The whole afternoon is spent +in this way, and only in the cool of the evening do the merry revellers +return to their simple homes across the lake. + +The boats look very pretty. They are rather wide and shallow, and in the +middle a white canvas covering is stretched from side to side, supported +on bent canes, to make a shelter from the heat of the sun. The boatman +in the dress of the country stands at the end, and drives the boat +through the water with rapid strokes from his single oar. + +The streets are narrow and crooked, and the houses are built very +irregularly. There is no pavement, and the dust is amazing. The +brown-faced, bare-legged children, with large solemn-looking brown eyes, +tumble about in it, munching ripe red tomatoes with their hunches of +brown bread. In the grass by the road-side funny little green lizards +run in and out, hurrying away at your approach as fast as their legs +will carry them. + +It is very strange to see even the smallest cottages fitted with +electric light, but this is the case in one village, Marroggia. A clever +German has set up some works close by, and drives the machinery by power +derived from a beautiful waterfall near the village. + +From Marroggia a young Italian went to London some years ago to seek his +fortune. He succeeded so well that he soon became rich. Returning to his +native village, he built there a beautiful villa, with gardens and lawns +sloping down to the lake. When it was finished he gave a feast to all +the villagers. Thousands of fairy lamps and Chinese lanterns were sent +for from London to illuminate the gardens, and turn them for the +occasion into fairyland. The peasants had never before seen anything +like it. They danced, they sang, and ate the good things provided for +them. They would willingly have lingered there all night, and it was +only when the last lamp flickered and went out that they returned home +to dream of what they had enjoyed. + +At one end of the lake stands Monte Generoso. The top is reached by a +mountain railway, which zig-zags its way up through the woods. It feels +very strange as the engine goes up panting and puffing, turning a sharp +corner at every few yards; but the view from the summit is very fine, +and the journey down still more exciting than the ascent. + +At the other end of the lake is a famous china and earthenware +manufactory. You can reach it by steamboat, but it is much better fun to +go in a small boat, where you can lie under the awning and watch the +boatman, in his white shirt-sleeves and coloured velvet waistcoat, +steering his boat like the gondoliers of Venice. + +The china manufactory is old-fashioned, but very interesting. The +potter's wheel is still used there, and it is wonderful to see the ease +and quickness with which a lump of clay is made into a cup, a saucer, a +vase, or any other article you may ask for. After it is taken off the +wheel, it is dipped into liquid glaze, then ornamented with some design +transferred from coloured paper, and finally fired in the furnace. + +Most people who visit the Italian lakes go on to Milan, a very +important, busy town. On the way you pass through large tracts of +country covered with maize and rice fields. The maize grows to an +enormous height, and the rice is watered artificially by tiny streams, +which may be seen trickling through the fields in all directions. + +ELAINE CARRUTHERS. + +[Illustration: A Peep at Northern Italy.] + +[Illustration: "The sailor-pupil climbed into the car."] + + + + +CRUISERS IN THE CLOUDS. + +VII.--BALLOONS AT THE SIEGE OF PARIS IN 1870. + + +Towards the close of the war between France and Germany, in 1870, the +German troops lay so closely round the walls and fortifications of Paris +that all communication with the outside world was cut off. No letters +could be sent to friends, and no letters from friends could be received, +for, once outside the walls of the town, they would surely fall into the +hands of the enemy. But the post office was anxious to continue doing +its duty, and the Government felt bound to find some means for sending +out and receiving official dispatches. The only way to accomplish this +was by the use of balloons. Paris had always been very busy with +balloons, but, when inquiries were made, it was found that there were +not more than six in all the city, and these were far too old and worn +out to use. Balloons must, therefore, be made, said the authorities, and +two gentlemen, named Godard and Yon, were requested to begin the work at +once. As railway stations were not wanted for trains in Paris at that +particular time, the two largest were chosen in which to build balloons. +Henceforth their 'trains' would journey silently through the sky instead +of noisily over the iron roads. + +Needles and cotton and calico were all carried in large quantities to +the Gare du Nord and the Gare d'Orleans (as the two stations are +called), and in less than four months sixty balloons were built and +dispatched. + +Some people in Paris, however, were so anxious to try the experiment +that they could not wait for the new balloons, but used an old one, +called the 'Neptune,' and M. Durnof, a daring aeronaut, made a flying +dash in it out of Paris. Those who witnessed his adventure say that the +old Neptune bounded almost straight up into the air, and fell beyond the +enemy's camp in much the same manner. It was as though a large cannon +ball had been fired (only very slowly) from the streets of Paris. + +The successful path of the Neptune was soon followed. M. Gambetta, the +great statesman, stepped into the car of the 'Armand Barbes' on the +morning of October 7th, and, after many narrow escapes from the enemy's +guns, landed safely among friends. Three days later a pretty +grey-feathered pigeon settled in Paris, bringing in one of its quills +the story of his journey. + +But among the many wonderful ascents made in that terrible time, none is +more interesting than that of M. Janssen, a great astronomer, who went +to Algeria to see an eclipse of the sun. Certain learned societies in +France, very anxious that the progress of science should not be delayed +by this unhappy war, were delighted to find him willing to undertake +the dangerous journey. England offered to obtain a safe-conduct for him +through the Prussian camp, but the astronomer said: 'No, thank you. I do +not wish to be under any obligation to the enemy.' + +So, packing his telescope and other instruments with very great care, he +carried them to the Gare d'Orleans on the morning of the 2nd December +(three weeks before the eclipse would take place), and, settling himself +in the car of his white balloon, the 'Volta,' gave orders for the anchor +to be weighed. At that time in the morning it was quite dark, and, ere +daylight was an hour old, he and his companion (a young sailor) had come +to earth again by the mouth of the Loire. They had travelled nearly +three hundred miles in a little more than three hours. A swifter journey +has hardly ever been made. It is disappointing to learn that, after such +a daring exploit, M. Janssen reached his destination only to find dense +clouds covering the Algerian sky at the moment the eclipse took place. + +The frequency with which balloons left Paris soon made it necessary to +increase the number of aeronauts, for those who departed were, of +course, unable to return. As the professional men became fewer, it was +found that the best to take their places were sailors. But, that they +might first have lessons in the art, a car was suspended from the roof +of the factory, and into this the sailor-pupil climbed. He soon learned +how to cry out, 'Let go all!' Then, after throwing out the ballast, +pulling the valve-rope, and dropping the anchor, he was ready, with more +courage than discretion, to call himself an aeronaut. And into the air +he went, with bags of letters and cages of pigeons, and, on the whole, +succeeded very well as a postman in the clouds. + +The mention of pigeons leads us to another story of ingenuity, though it +has not much to do with balloons. + +After the question of how to dispatch letters had been solved, the next +that arose was, how to receive replies. The balloons that _left_ the +city had got nearly all Europe to settle in, but it was hopeless to try +to steer them back to so small a spot as the city itself. But a carrier +pigeon would have no such difficulty in returning. Means must be found, +however, to make it possible for each bird to carry many letters. M. +Dagron, a clever photographer, discovered this means. He showed how he +could photograph a letter and reduce it in size till the writing became +unreadable, even under an ordinary magnifying glass. This could be done +on films so thin that a roll of twenty of them could be inserted in one +quill, each film representing a large number of letters. Having proved +to the authorities the success of his invention, M. Dagron departed in a +balloon, to explain to the various towns in France how letters must be +sent to Paris. + +Every day after that the welcome sounds of flapping wings was heard in +the beleaguered city. The letters that they brought were placed between +two sheets of glass and enlarged. Then, by means of a magic lantern, +they were reflected on to a large screen, while post-office clerks, +sitting at a table opposite, copied them down on to separate sheets, +and dispatched them to their different addresses in the city. Nearly one +hundred thousand letters were sent to Paris in this way during the four +months of the siege, and the hostile army outside its walls was +powerless to intercept them. + +JOHN LEA. + + + + +WILLIE'S SUM. + + + Willie laid his pencil down, + And put his books away, + And with a sad and peevish frown + He hurried out to play. + But as he ran, the blackbird's song + From poplars in the lane, + Rang out: 'You know that sum was wrong, + And should be done again.' + + Yet Willie heeded not the sound; + Pretended not to hear, + Till trees, and hills and all around + Kept singing in his ear: + 'It's no use, Willie! Trust us, do! + You can't enjoy the fun + Until the task that's set for you + Is well and justly done.' + + Then in a sad and sorry state + He homeward turned amain: + Took up his pencil and his slate + And worked the sum again. + _This_ time the answer wasn't wrong, + And as to play he went, + His conscience sang an altered song + Which made his heart content. + + + + +GENEROSITY. + + +A father of a family wished to settle his property between his three +sons. He therefore made three equal parts of his chief possessions and +gave one part to each son. There remained over a diamond ring of great +value, which he reserved for the son who should perform the noblest and +most generous action within the space of three months. The sons +separated, and at the appointed time presented themselves before him. + +The eldest son said, 'Father, during my absence I had in my power all +the riches and fortune of a person who entrusted them to me without any +security of any kind; he asked me for them, and I returned them to him +with the greatest honesty.' + +'You have done, my son,' replied the father, 'only what was your duty, +and I should die of shame if you were capable of doing otherwise, for +honesty is a duty; what you did was just, but not generous.' + +It was now the second son's turn, and he spoke thus: 'I was on the banks +of a lake, when, seeing a child fall in, I threw myself in, and with +great danger to myself drew him out. I did it in the presence of some +countrymen, who will testify to the truth of it.' + +'Well and good,' replied the father, 'but there is only humanity in that +action.' + +At last came the turn of the third son, who spoke thus: 'I found my +mortal enemy, who had strayed during the night, and was sleeping on the +edge of a precipice in such a manner that the least false movement on +waking would have thrown him over. His life was in my hands; I was +careful to wake him with precaution, and drew him out of danger.' + +'Ah, my son!' exclaimed the father, overjoyed, embracing him, 'without +doubt you deserve the ring.' + + + + +ANIMAL MAKESHIFTS. + +True Anecdotes. + +II.--TIME WITHOUT A CLOCK. + + +'The stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times,' says the Bible, +and the turtle-dove, the crane, and the swallow to this day 'observe the +time of their coming.' What a wonderful law is theirs! They need not +learn it, for it is born in them. Migratory birds know not only the need +for their journeys, but the fixed times for them. It has been thought +that the rules of their airy road have been handed down from generation +to generation, but this is not always true. Nothing is positively known, +except that the travellers are in search of food or quiet nesting-places, +when they move from land to land. + +As the time draws near for birds of passage to travel, they seem to know +it by an inward restlessness; they long to be away--they know that delay +is dangerous, and, so strong is the longing to be gone, that migratory +birds kept back by accident or wilful cruelty, often die of the desire +to go. The young cuckoo never survives an attempt to detain him. A poor, +wild goose, with a lame wing, was seen bravely setting out on foot to do +his journey of hundreds of miles over sea and land, when he saw his +brethren depart for another clime. + +One of nature's grandest sights is the yearly flight southwards of wild +swans from Norway to the great lakes in Turkey. The birds fly at the +rate of about one hundred miles an hour, in vast flocks, shaped like the +letter V, the sharp end foremost, as an arrow passes through the air. At +the point flies the leader or captain, the strongest and wisest of the +band, and ahead of the main army he sends a skirmishing swan to keep a +sharp look-out. This swan's business it is to see if the coast is clear. +From time to time he comes rushing back with some warning note. Then +there is a great cackling, a pause, and a council. After holding this +noisy parliament, the army resumes its course, or changes it, according +to the news brought. When the swans reach the lake, they do not swoop +down till the captain has made a careful search around, poking among the +reeds, flapping over the surface, and even taking a sip of the water, to +make sure that nothing has happened to make the lake dangerous for swans +since the last time he was there. All being well, he signals to the +band, who descend with a rush, and soon cover the water with their +graceful forms. + +Do pigeons carry watches? How do London pigeons, for instance, tell the +hour, and turn up punctually at the feeding-places? At Guildhall Yard +the birds come early in the morning to eat the breakfast provided for +them, but they do not stay all day. At Finsbury Circus, Draper's Hall +Gardens, and other places in London, there are flocks which are +carefully fed at regular hours, and those who have the care of them +agree that at feeding-time the flocks are always joined by large numbers +of guests from without. Perhaps the pigeons ask each other out to dine, +mentioning the hours for the meals! + +[Illustration: A Flight of Wild Swans.] + +The rough idea of time which all living things possess is keenest in +domestic animals. The dogs, cats, horses, donkeys, and others, who know +certain days in the week and hours in the day without clock or almanac, +may be guided by noticing little events which we do not, but which show +them the time; or they may even feel the position of the sun, though it +cannot be seen. However this may be, they show a sense which we must +admire and may envy. Horses are great observers of time, as many +anecdotes show, perhaps none better than this one: A horse belonging to +a news-man knew the houses at which his master's journals were +delivered, and, when he took them round in the trap, always stopped at +the right doors. But this was not all. There were two people--living one +at Thorpe, the other at Chertsey--who paid for a weekly paper between +them, taking it in turns to read it first. The horse found this out, and +would stop one week at Thorpe and the next at Chertsey, alternately. + +[Illustration: "The mule pulled the string of the bell."] + +The mule is not behindhand. A Spanish milk-seller was taken ill, and, +being unable to go the rounds or to spare his wife, they agreed to send +the mule, who always carried it, alone. A paper was written, asking the +customers to measure their own milk, and place the money in a little can +for the purpose; this was fastened to the animal's neck, and off he +went. At every house where his master was in the habit of selling milk +he stopped and waited; but _he did not wait an unreasonable time_. If +nobody came, he tried to push the door open, or pulled the string of the +bell, which, in Madrid, is usually rung by a cord hanging down. The +simple peasants laughed, and fell into the joke; they scorned to cheat +the dumb milkman, and the clever mule took his money home in triumph. + +It is not the higher animals alone who are time-keepers. Menault tells +of a friendly toad, living in a garden, who would appear at the family +dinner-time, and sit upon the stone ledge outside the window to get a +share. The hour was changed, for some reason, from noon to three in the +afternoon, and, for the first time, the uninvited guest was +absent--once, but once only. On the second day after the change he was +squatting at the new hour ready for his saucer of milk. + +EDITH CARRINGTON. + +[Illustration: "'Let me bind up your hand.'"] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 243._) + +CHAPTER VII. + + +Three days passed, and Charlie and Ping Wang were still on board the +coper, no boat bound for Grimsby having been met. During that time +Charlie and his friend had seen many things which filled them with +loathing for the boat on which circumstances had placed them. + +On the third evening, when the coper's boat returned from a trip around +the trawlers, Charlie and Ping Wang were surprised to see that the +passengers were two men who had been sent away early on the previous +evening, because their money was spent. + +'How can they have got money since last night?' Charlie said to Ping +Wang. + +'They've borrowed from their mates,' Ping Wang suggested, but they soon +discovered that his explanation was not the right one. As the boat +bobbed up and down by the side of the _Lily_, the men took from the +bottom of it a fishing-net, and handed it up to the skipper, who was +leaning over the gunwale. + +'They have stolen that net,' Charlie remarked, guessing the truth, 'and +the skipper is going to buy it from them.' + +'It's a new one, skipper,' one of the thieves exclaimed, as he jumped on +board. + +'All right,' the receiver of stolen property answered, 'Go down below +and enjoy yourselves.' + +The two men descended at once into the saloon, while the skipper, after +examining the net, dragged it aft, and removing a hatchway dropped the +net into the hold. As he did so Charlie stepped forward, and looking +down, saw, by the light of the wire-guarded lamp, that the hold was half +full of nets, oars, buckets, ropes, cooking utensils, brass fittings, +mops, oilies, and other things too numerous to mention. + +'All that is stolen property, I suppose?' Charlie said to the skipper. + +'Well, it wasn't stolen from you,' the skipper answered, 'so you have no +cause to grumble.' + +He closed the hatchway, and then turned to Charlie to abuse him more +freely, but just as he began a seaman came up and told him that a +mission ship had joined the fleet of trawlers. + +Forgetting all about Charlie, the skipper hurried away to look at the +new craft, and found that the news was true. Very bad news he considered +it, for he knew that the North Sea fishermen never came aboard a coper +if there was a mission ship with the fleet. Tobacco is sold cheaper on a +mission ship than on a coper, and naturally the fishermen, who have very +little money to spend, buy in the cheapest market. Moreover, every man +aboard a mission ship is a friend of the fishermen, and there is not a +trawler in the North Sea on which it is not possible to find two or +three men who have good reasons for blessing mission ships. Hundreds of +men have been carried aboard these floating hospitals and nursed back to +health. + +When the mission ship was about half a mile from the _Lily_, Charlie +said to the coper skipper: 'Now is your chance to get rid of Ping Wang +and me. Hail that boat and send us aboard her.' + +'Hail a craft like that?' the skipper answered roughly. 'I'd sink her +with pleasure if I had the chance; but as for hailing her----I'd rather +die!' + +'I'll give you a sovereign to take us aboard her.' + +'Wouldn't do it for ten sovereigns.' + +Charlie went back to Ping Wang and told him of the skipper's decision. + +'I'm not surprised,' Ping Wang declared. 'He will sail off as quickly as +possible, I fancy.' + +That, indeed, was the coper skipper's intention. He wished to start +immediately, and would have done so had it not been for the two thieves +who were drinking in the saloon. + +'Now then,' said the skipper, coming down to the saloon and addressing +the thieves, 'if you won't leave, I shall have to sail off with you.' + +'Right you are; I don't care,' one of them declared, and the other added +that he would thoroughly enjoy a cruise in a coper. + +The skipper, however, had no intention of keeping on board two men +without money, and was compelled to wait about for their departure. But +just as he expected them to go, one man had a heated argument with his +companion, which ended in a fight. The skipper, fearing that his saloon +might be damaged, tried to stop the fight by seizing hold of the smaller +man, who, however, promptly freed himself, and with two quick-following +blows with his fist knocked the skipper down. The other man had in the +meanwhile jumped across the counter and seized a bottle, which he put in +his pocket. + +'Come on, Jack,' he shouted to the man whom he had been fighting, and +hurried up on deck. Jack, seeing that the skipper was not likely to +interfere with him, followed his shipmate quickly on deck, and they made +for the coper's boat, but none of the ship's crew were in it. + +'Cut the painter, Jack,' the taller man commanded, and Jack, using his +knife, soon did so. Then they grasped the oars and rowed away. It was +the only boat that the coper possessed, and when the skipper discovered +what the two fishermen had done he hurried on deck and shouted abuse at +them. The men took no notice, and soon arrived safely at their own ship. +Before they climbed aboard, the taller man said, 'Now let us sink the +coper's boat. Cut a hole in her.' + +The other man was delighted with the idea, and without delay removed the +bottom boards and let in the water. That done, he followed his mate +aboard the trawler, sending the small boat adrift. + +The skipper of the coper had, in the meanwhile, by tacking, made an +effort to keep his stolen boat in sight, but the night was dark, and the +fear of a collision with a trawler made his endeavour a fruitless one, +and he was compelled to lay to until daybreak would give him an +opportunity of renewing his search. But, of course, when morning came he +could see no signs of his boat, and after several hours' search he +sailed away. About six hours later he sighted another fleet. He at once +made for it, but finding on approaching nearer that there was a mission +ship with it, he sailed off in another direction. + +The skipper was now in a very bad temper, and his ill-humour spread to +his men, who were mostly foreigners. It was evident to Charlie and Ping +Wang, although they did not understand Dutch, that the latter were +relieving their feelings by making insulting remarks concerning them. + +While the coper's men were speaking about Charlie and Ping Wang, the +Chinaman, innocent of any intention to be rude, made some gesture which +one of the crew took for an insult. Instantly he rushed at Ping Wang and +struck him a heavy blow in the face with his fist. He was about to +strike him again, but Charlie pushed him roughly aside and faced him +with clenched fists. + +The sailor struck viciously at Charlie, who warded off two blows and +then landed his opponent a heavy one full in the mouth. This he followed +up with a blow between the eyes, knocking the man down. For a moment +the sailor lay still; then, seeing that he was likely to get the worst +of the encounter, he quickly ran to the galley, and, seizing a big +shovel, prepared to continue to fight with it. But the skipper, hearing +a disturbance, hurried aft to see what was taking place. He met the man +with the shovel, and, hearing his threat, drew his revolver and pointed +it at him. + +'Take it back!' he commanded, and the man obeyed reluctantly. 'I don't +want murder done aboard my ship,' the skipper added, turning to Charlie +and Ping Wang, 'so don't annoy my men.' + +'We have done nothing whatever to annoy them,' Charlie declared, 'and +the assault upon Ping Wang was quite unprovoked.' + +'There must have been some reason for the fellow hitting him,' the +skipper declared, and at once questioned his men, who, of course, made +known the nature of the insult which they had received from the +Chinaman. He explained the matter to Charlie and Ping Wang, and +afterwards assured his men that no insult had been intended. The sailor +who had assaulted Ping Wang then made an apology, and the whole incident +was concluded by his shaking hands with Charlie. But in the middle of +the night Charlie had an experience that was far more unpleasant than +his brief fight. He was sleeping, as usual, on the cushioned seat in the +saloon when he woke suddenly, feeling some one tampering with the belt +which he wore, and which contained the whole of his money. + +'You scoundrel!' he shouted, as he gripped the thief's hand. The next +moment Charlie uttered a cry of pain, for the thief, who was under the +table, drew a knife across his hand. Charlie released his hold of the +thief instantly, and then jumped up in the hope of catching the man +before he could escape. But the thief was too quick for him. The room +was in darkness, and, before Charlie could make his way out of his +cramped quarters at the side of the table, the thief had climbed up the +ladder and closed the iron door behind him. + +Ping Wang was now awake, and, finding the place in semi-darkness, struck +a light. + +'Turn up the lamp,' Charlie said, and, when the Chinaman had done as he +desired, he told him what had happened. + +'How much has he taken?' Ping Wang inquired. + +'Half a sovereign,' Charlie replied, after counting his money. +'Evidently the scoundrel had only tried one of the little pockets when I +woke. It is a good thing that I distributed my money all round my belt.' + +'It is, indeed,' Ping Wang answered. 'Now let me bind up your hand.' + +The cut was not very severe, the thief apparently having had no desire +to inflict a deep wound. + +'Let us go and complain to the skipper at once,' Ping Wang suggested, +and, after putting on a few clothes, they went on deck, where, somewhat +to their surprise, they found the skipper at the wheel. + +'Hallo!' he sung out. 'What's up? Going to try another midnight swim?' + +In as few words as possible Charlie told him what had happened. + +'You've been dreaming,' the skipper declared, with a laugh. 'I've been +at the wheel for the last three-quarters of an hour, and you are the +first person I have seen come out of the saloon. No one could come out +without me seeing him. Get down below again, and don't lie on your back; +you are sure to dream if you do.' + +'Dreams do not cut a man's fingers,' Charlie observed, sharply. + +'Well, I'll make inquiries, but it is not likely that the man who did +rob you--if you were robbed--will confess. Now get below, or you'll +catch cold.' + +Charlie and Ping Wang returned to the saloon, very dissatisfied with +this conversation. + +'I believe,' Ping Wang said, 'that it was the skipper himself who robbed +you.' + +'So do I,' Charlie replied; 'but how can I prove it? And if I could +prove it, what good would it be while we are on his ship? All we can do +is to take extra precautions against being robbed.' + +After talking for about half an hour, they fell asleep, and were not +again disturbed. + +When they went on deck, shortly after breakfast, the skipper summoned +all hands on deck, and questioned each man as to whether he had been +into the saloon during the night. Each one denied having done so, and +Charlie believed them. + +'It is my opinion,' the skipper said to Charlie an hour or two later, +'that it was that Chinaman who robbed you.' + +'If you knew Ping Wang as well as I do, such a foolish idea would never +have entered your head.' + +'All Chinamen are very crafty. You had better let me make him sleep in +the foc's'le.' + +'So that it would be easier for me to be robbed.' + +'What do you mean? Do you accuse me of robbing you?' + +'I do not accuse any one unless I can prove my charges. At any rate, I +shouldn't be doing you an injustice if I did call you a thief, knowing, +as I do, what a collection of stolen property you have in the hold. A +receiver of stolen goods is not an atom better than a thief.' + +With this parting shot Charlie walked away. + +(_Continued on page 258._) + + + + +OUTWITTING HIMSELF. + + +A celebrated physician once attended the child of a wealthy French lady, +who was so grateful for the recovery of her boy that she determined to +give a larger fee than usual for his attendance. As he was taking leave +on his final visit, the grateful mother handed to the doctor a handsome +pocket-book, which she said she had worked with her own hands. The +doctor bowed stiffly, and said, 'Madam, the pocket-book is quite a work +of art, and I admire it exceedingly, but my fee is two thousand francs.' + +'Not more?' she replied; and taking the pocket-book back, she removed +from it five one-thousand franc-notes, and handed two of them to the +doctor, bowing stiffly in her turn, and, replacing the other three notes +in the rejected pocket-book, she retired. + +[Illustration: "The grateful mother handed the doctor a handsome +pocket-book."] + +[Illustration: CROSSING THE BROOK.] + +[Illustration: "'Come over here and surrender.'"] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 255._) + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +From the coper skipper's point of view the two following days were very +unsatisfactory. Not an ounce of tobacco nor a drop of drink was sold, in +spite of the fact that several fishing-boats were met. Growing reckless, +the skipper determined to approach the English coast, so as to meet the +boats coming out of the Humber. + +'Now you will soon be able to transfer us to a Grimsby-bound boat,' +Charlie said to the skipper, when they were about two miles from land. + +'I have come here to look after outward-bound boats,' the skipper +answered, sharply, 'and I can't bother about you. I have quite enough to +think about.' + +A few minutes later, Charlie understood what the skipper meant. He was +in British waters, and to sell tobacco or drink there would render him +liable to be seized by a cruiser or revenue cutter. Every sailing ship +that came out of the Humber the captain watched closely through his +marine glasses, and not until he had satisfied himself that she was +harmless did he approach her. + +The skipper was well pleased with his work at the end of the day, and +when darkness came on he sailed out of British waters, with the +intention of returning at daybreak. Charlie and Ping Wang, however, +considered that the day had been a most unsatisfactory one. + +'I can't stand another day of this,' Charlie said to Ping Wang, when the +two were alone. 'I mean to get ashore to-morrow somehow or other. Shall +we jump overboard, and swim to the nearest ship making for the Humber?' + +'I have lost confidence in my swimming powers,' Ping Wang answered. + +'But there will be no necessity for us to have such a long swim as our +last one. Besides, there will be plenty of boats about, and some of them +are sure to come to our help.' + +'When do you mean to start?' + +'As soon as we are again in British waters. That will be to-morrow +morning. To-morrow night we shall be in Grimsby, or perhaps at my home. +You agree, don't you?' + +'Oh, yes. But now let us get to sleep. We ought to start as fresh as +possible.' + +They lay down almost immediately, and slept soundly until about six +o'clock. Then they were awakened rather suddenly by hearing a gun fired. + +'What's the meaning of that?' Charlie asked, as he sat up and listened. + +Ping Wang shook his head, and in a few minutes was again asleep. +Charlie, a little later, lay down and slept; but in about a quarter of +an hour they were again awakened, this time by men descending into the +saloon. Looking up over the saloon table, they saw two bluejackets, with +cutlasses in their hands, at the foot of the ladder. An officer ran down +the ladder and joined them. + +As soon as Charlie and Ping Wang saw the sailors, they guessed that the +coper had been captured in British waters, and in their delight they +jumped off the seat on which they had been sleeping and stood up on the +cushions. In a moment the officer covered Charlie with his revolver. + +'All right,' Charlie exclaimed, 'we are not Dutchmen.' + +'I didn't suspect your mate of being one,' the officer replied, smiling, +but still covering Charlie. 'Come over here and surrender.' + +'With pleasure,' Charlie said. 'We are jolly glad you have boarded this +wretched coper.' + +'The skipper denies that she is a coper. Possibly you can save us the +trouble of hunting for his liquor and tobacco?' + +'That is where it is kept,' Charlie declared, pointing to the cupboard. +'The skipper has the key.' + +'Throw down the skipper's keys,' Lieutenant Williams sang out to his men +on deck. + +For two or three minutes the revenue officer sat on the saloon table, +dangling his legs and whistling cheerfully. + +'The skipper says he hasn't any keys, sir,' a sailor called down. 'We +have searched him, and can't find any, sir.' + +'Very well, then,' the officer said; 'we must do without them. Force +open that cupboard.' + +One of the two sailors pulled out his knife and forced the lock with +little difficulty; then he slid back the shutter and displayed the +coper's stock of spirits, wines, tobacco, and cigars. + +'A very nice collection indeed,' the revenue officer declared. 'I am +very much obliged to you for your assistance,' he continued, addressing +Charlie; 'but I must ask you to explain why you are on board this boat. +You are my prisoner, although you do not appear to be in league with the +skipper.' + +Charlie related all that had happened to him. The story of his and Ping +Wang's adventures amused the revenue officer highly. + +'Well,' he said, at the end of the story, 'I'm very glad to have met +both of you. After I have had a peep in the hold, I will take you aboard +my cutter.' + +The hold, with its stock of nets and other stolen property, added to the +revenue officer's satisfaction at the capture he had made. Leaving five +men on the coper, to man it--three on deck and two in the saloon--he +returned to his cutter, taking Charlie and Ping Wang with him. As soon +as they were aboard, the cutter started, escorting the coper into +Grimsby. + +'How did you manage to catch the coper?' Charlie asked the lieutenant, +as they were watching the land coming nearer and nearer. + +'I discovered her yesterday, but could not get close to her while she +was in British waters. I saw that the chances of catching her were +against me, so did not make the attempt. At night I went out to sea with +covered lights, and kept my eye on her. Just before daybreak she went +back into British waters, and I followed her. When there was light +enough for her to see me, she fancied, as I intended she should, that I +was a fishing-boat returning to Grimsby. While she had two trawlers' +boats alongside I made for her. Then she guessed who I was, and tried +to escape, but when I sent a shot across her bows she lay to, and the +skipper demanded to know what I meant. I soon told him.' + +'I fancy,' Charlie said, 'that the coper skipper is an old hand at the +game.' + +'I am certain of it,' the revenue officer replied, 'and that makes me +all the more pleased. Now, I must be off.' + +With that he went on deck, and Charlie and Ping Wang followed him. They +were now in the Humber, creating some excitement among the vessels in +the river. All hands mustered on every ship to see the coper, and +frequently, when the nature of the boat was known, loud cheers were +given for the captor. + +The news of the capture had reached Grimsby before the two boats +arrived, and, consequently, there was a large crowd waiting to see the +prisoners brought in. Among the people was the former cook of the +_Sparrow-hawk_, whose astonishment at beholding Charlie and Ping Wang on +a revenue cutter highly amused his two acquaintances. Charlie nodded to +him, but there was no opportunity to settle up with him just then, as +the prisoners were immediately marched off to the magistrate. + +To the revenue officials' surprise, the coper skipper pleaded guilty to +selling spirits and tobacco in British waters. He did so because, seeing +Charlie and Ping Wang in court, he knew that they would give evidence +against him. On his pleading guilty, the stock-in-trade, together with +the stolen property which he had purchased, was confiscated. As Charlie +and Ping Wang came out of the court they found the bow-legged cook +waiting for them, anxious to get the balance of money due to him from +Charlie, and also to hear how he had fared on the _Sparrow-hawk_. They +went to the Fisherman's Home, and there the cook was paid. + +Charlie then related, in as few words as possible, all that had happened +to him from the time he went aboard the _Sparrow-hawk_, and concluded by +asking the bow-legged cook not to mention to Skipper Drummond, if he met +him during the next few days, that he had seen him and Ping Wang. + +Charlie and Ping Wang shook hands with the cook and left him. + +'Now,' Charlie said, 'we must go to a cheap tailor's. I think that I +have enough money to buy a ready-made suit for each of us.' + +'Perhaps the tailor will give us something for the coper's things,' Ping +Wang remarked. 'You paid enough for them.' + +'I did, and if I tell a tailor, or any one else, what I gave for them, I +shall be thought a madman.' + +Half-a-crown was the value which the Grimsby tailor placed upon the +clothes which Charlie and Ping Wang were wearing. The new clothes which +they purchased were rather loud in pattern, and by no means a good fit, +but they were cheap, and a great improvement on the things which they +had taken off. + +After surveying themselves in the glass--and immediately wishing that +they had not done so--they quitted the shop and made their way to the +railway station, to start for Charlie's home. + +(_Continued on page 266._) + + + + +JACK'S WISH. + + + 'Oh, how I wish,' cried Jack, one day, + 'That I was grown up quite, + For then I should not go to school, + Or have to keep some silly rule. + I'm sure they're made in spite. + Why should I go to bed at eight, + If I desire to sit up late?' + + 'Oh, very well,' his father said; + 'Go to the Bank for me, + And sit, as I do, all day long-- + I think you soon would change your song, + And long at school to be. + Just try to be content, my boy, + And then your life you will enjoy.' + + + + +A TIMELY RESCUE. + + +'It looks just as if we were going to have a thunder-shower,' Mrs. +Marston said. 'I wish, George, you would find Rose and Elsie, and tell +them to come home.' + +'But I don't know where to look for them,' George said. + +'They are certain to be somewhere in the fields. And take an umbrella +with you. Elsie has such a bad cold, I shall be vexed if she gets wet.' + +'Oh, Mother, I don't believe it will rain, and I do want to finish +painting this rabbit-hutch! It is such a nuisance to leave things half +done.' + +'My boy, it is not right to argue with your mother when she asks you to +do something for her.' + +'Bother those kids,' George muttered crossly, as he went off, grumbling, +to hunt for an umbrella. + +It was a hot, thundery day, and he was feeling still more cross after +searching through three fields and finding no trace of the children. + +'The clouds are clearing away, and blue sky is showing everywhere,' he +said to himself. 'It is perfectly idiotic to go on with this wild-goose +chase.' + +Then he climbed a stile for a look into the next field, and what he saw +almost made his heart stand still. + +Rose and Elsie were sitting on the grass, busily arranging some flowers +they had been gathering to make a nice bunch for their mother. + +Behind them was a large freshly made gap in the hedge, and coming +through it was a fierce bull belonging to a neighbouring farmer. + +George was horror-struck. What should he do? If he shouted and alarmed +the children, they would be too frightened to know what to do, and +should the bull give chase, they might be overtaken before they could +reach the stile. + +In a moment his mind was made up. He jumped over into the field, and ran +as fast as he could to try and get between the bull and the children. + +He was only just in time. Rose and Elsie started up when they saw him, +but when they realised their danger, they were almost too scared to +move. + +'Get to the stile as quickly as you can,' George called to them; and +then he ran towards the bull, and opened his umbrella quickly before the +astonished animal. + +[Illustration: "He ran towards the bull and opened his umbrella +quickly."] + +The fierce creature lowered his horns and seemed uncertain whether to +charge his enemy or to flee before him. + +Again George fired off his umbrella as if it were a gun, and this time +the bull decided it would be better to retreat in a dignified way to his +own domain. You may be sure George lost no time in getting out of the +field. + +'My brave boy!' his mother whispered when the breathless children had +arrived home and had told their story. 'How thankful I am that I have an +obedient son!' + +'But, Mother, I nearly disobeyed,' George confessed, and he grew pale +when he thought what it would have meant if he had not arrived in time. + +M. H. + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +VIII.--HOW INSECTS MAKE MUSIC. + + +Though the sounds made by insects may not in themselves be musical, +according to our standard of music, yet many insect performers give us +great pleasure, perhaps because of the pleasant memories which they call +up. Who among us does not love the hum of the bee? How delightful is the +lazy drone of the great steely-blue dor-beetle, as he rambles along in +the twilight of a summer night! The lively chirping of the cricket, too, +has inspired more than one poet, and the great novelist, Charles +Dickens, used it in a well-known story. + +[Illustration: Fig. 1.--Above, leg of American Grasshopper, magnified; +musical instrument at T. Below, musical instrument of American +Grasshopper, greatly magnified.] + +The simplest means of making a noise is that used by the beetle known by +the grim name of the 'death-watch.' In our own houses this little beetle +often causes great alarm by the ticking or tapping sound which it makes +by striking its head against the wall. Ignorant people look upon this +noise as a warning of approaching death; but, really, it is meant to +charm and attract any other beetles of the kind which may be within +hearing! + +[Illustration: Fig. 2.--Cicada, as in life.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 3.--Cicada, showing "drums" (marked D), magnified.] + +But many insects, like the crickets and grasshoppers, have a specially +constructed instrument on which they play. Fig. 1 shows a part of the +instrument used by an American grasshopper. It is formed by a row of +tiny teeth, marked T, placed along the inner side of the thigh of the +great leaping leg. When this creature feels very happy, or wants to +charm his mate, he produces a shrill sound by rubbing these teeth across +the hard 'nervures,' or wing 'veins.' What these teeth are really like +can be seen in the lower part of the illustration, which shows eight +little spear-heads set in sockets. These are 'teeth,' which act much as +a comb would do if drawn lightly over a tightly stretched wire. + +[Illustration: Fig. 4.--Scorpion, in act of "playing."] + +The 'stridulation,' as this form of musical production is called, in +some locusts is so loud that it can be heard on a still night for a +distance of a mile. Some South American locusts are such wonderful +performers that the Indians keep them in wicker cages, in order that +they may enjoy the playing. There is a North American locust which is +quite famous as a musician. It is known as the Katydid, on account of +its peculiar notes, which resemble the words _Katy-did-she-did_. This +note is kept up throughout the night. Our field-cricket plays by rubbing +a row of teeth, about one hundred and thirty in number, placed on the +under side of one of the supporting rods, or 'veins,' of the wings, +against another rod very like it, but without teeth, in the upper +surface of the opposite wing. First one wing is rubbed over the other, +and then the process is reversed. + +A near relative of the grasshopper, the cicada of North America and of +Southern Europe (fig. 2), has a really wonderful instrument, rather like +a kettle-drum. But it is an unusual sort of kettle-drum, for it is +played from within. The drum-heads are shown in fig. 3, marked D, one on +each side of the creature, like the drums on a cavalry horse, except +that they are underneath the animal in the case of the cicada. If the +'skin' of the drum be removed, a very complicated instrument is seen, +and this, by causing vibrations, increased by the tightly stretched +drum-head, gives rise to the sounds for which these insects have long +been famous. + +The great traveller-naturalist, Fritz Mueller, tells us that musical +contests between two or three rival cicadas--only the males play--often +take place. As soon as one had finished his song, another immediately +began, then another, and so on all through the night. Another +naturalist, Bates, tells that when in the Amazons he used to listen to +the cicadas, which began with sunset. The tune began with a jarring +sound, and ended in a long loud note, like 'the steam-whistle of a +locomotive engine!' + +In insects which hum the sound mainly comes from the abdomen. In flies +and humble-bees, for example, the 'voice' is caused by air rushing out +from the mouths of the air or breathing-tubes. But these sounds are +deepened by the vibration of the wings. Those who know something of +music will understand what is meant when they are told that the note of +the honey-bee on the wing is A; its ordinary 'voice,' however, is an +octave higher, and often goes to B and C. From the note produced by the +wing, the speed with which it is vibrated can be reckoned. Thus, the +house-fly, which produces the sound F, vibrates its wings 21,120 times a +minute, or 335 times a second; the bee, which makes the note A, 26,400 +times a minute, or 440 times a second! + +But, besides insects, there are many spiders and scorpions which may +claim to be musical. The instrument of the spider is formed on the same +principle as that of the grasshopper--that is to say, by a raised +tooth-like edge, which can produce vibrations. Beneath the front of a +spider's head there is, on each side, a stout jaw, ending in a long, +movable fang, like a claw. Behind this jaw is a short leg, formed like a +walking leg, and known as the 'palp.' It is never used, however, for +walking, but is carried straight forwards, so that the inner surfaces of +its joints are close to the outer surface of the jaw. Now, whenever the +'palp' is moved, it is rubbed against the 'teeth' in the jaw, and this +consequently, in many spiders, produces a sound like the humming of a +bee! In some spiders which have this apparatus, the sound produced +cannot be heard by human ears. + +It is to be noted that, whatever the sound produced, its purpose is to +serve one of two very different ends. It may be used, as in some +spiders, when it is found only in the males, to charm its mate in +courting; for she has a very bad temper, and must be approached most +cautiously. But in the case of the huge bird-eating spiders, this +curious buzzing sound appears to be made for the purpose of frightening +its enemies, which, connecting the buzzing sound with the power of +stinging, give the spider a wide berth as soon as the buzzing begins! To +make itself appear more terrible, the spider raises the fore part of the +body and legs high in the air, and thus, partly by this threatening +attitude, and partly by the sound, persuades those about to attack that +'discretion is the better part of valour!' + +The scorpion hisses. Some describe the noise as like that produced by +rubbing the finger-nail over the hairs of a stiff tooth-brush. The +vibrating instruments are found in different places, according to the +species of scorpion. But the plan of its construction is the same in +all, and is like that of the spider. Thus, in some species (as in fig. +4) there are, at the outer side of the base of the great pair of +pincers, a number of sharp spinelets, shaped like a tiger's 'fang.' +These make up the 'scraper.' Against it the scorpion rubs a number of +tubercles, or little rounded bodies, which are seated on the base of the +first pair of walking-legs; these form the 'rasp.' The movement of the +rasp on the scraper produces the hissing sound. Sometimes the hissing is +produced by a similar rasp and scraper placed on the inner surface of +the little pincers which project in front of the body, between the two +great pincers. In other cases the rasp and scraper are found, the rasp +on the top of the base of the little pincer, the scraper on the under +surface of the overhanging shield of the body. But, however formed, the +noise produced is similar, and appears to be meant to terrify enemies. +This purpose is further aided by the habit the creature has, when angry, +of turning the poisonous sting at the end of the tail over the back. + +W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S., A.L.S. + + + + +A TRIFLING OFFENCE. + + +Noucherivan, King of Persia, had a very violent temper. One day he +condemned a page to death for having by accident spilled a little sauce +over him while waiting at table. The page, knowing that he had no hope +of pardon, proceeded to pour the whole contents of the plate over his +master. Nouchirevan, almost forgetting his anger in his surprise, asked +the reason of this outrageous act. + +'Prince,' explained the page, 'I am desirous that my death should not +injure your renown by being undeserved. All nations esteem you as the +most just of sovereigns, but you would lose that glorious title were it +to become known that you had condemned one of your slaves to die for so +trifling a fault as the one which I first committed.' + +This answer made such an impression upon the king that, ashamed of his +passion, he pardoned the slave, and also tried by his bounty to atone +for his contemplated cruelty and injustice. + + + + +PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS. + +12.--CURTAILMENTS. + +1. Curtail stiff and strict, and leave a Swiss mountain. +2. Curtail a large country in Asia, and leave the point of the under jaw. +3. Curtail a scooping instrument, and leave to push. +4. Curtail acute and discerning, and leave a kind of mouse. +5. Curtail a raised floor or platform, and leave a horned animal. +6. Curtail an island on the Kentish coast, and leave a Saxon nobleman. + +C. J. B. + + +13.--CONICAL PUZZLE. + +The middle letters of each word read downwards give the name of a +well-known English poet. + +1. A consonant. +2. A price fixed after all deductions have been made. +3. To gaze, to look with fixed eyes. +4. To disperse, to throw loosely about. +5. Kindnesses, good wishes, benefits, favours. + +C. J. B. + +[_Answers on page 290._] + + * * * * * + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON PAGE 230. + +10.--_Valparaiso._ + + 1. V eneration. + 2. A nimosity. + 3. L inoleum. + 4. P aragon. + 5. A melia. + 6. R azor. + 7. A rch. + 8. I ce. + 9. S o. +10. O + +11.--Tar-tar. + + + + +THE POTATO. + + +Amongst our English vegetables, the potato is the most abundant and +useful. It is liked by nearly all, and it is indeed a chief article of +food in some districts. Other vegetables are largely eaten--cabbages and +turnips, for instance--but the potato is in the greatest demand. + +We have in the potato an illustration of a plant which belongs to a +poisonous family, but has roots (or tubers) very nourishing and +agreeable to eat. But if anybody was to eat the berries which follow the +showy flowers of the potato, they would most likely be made ill, nor are +the leaves wholesome to us, though they furnish food to the big +caterpillar of the Death's-head moth. + +We have to thank the Romans for bringing into Britain many fruits and +vegetables; others, later on, came from France and Germany, or some +other part of Europe; but the potato we owe to America. The potato first +known in these islands, however, was not the one familiar now; it was +the sweet potato, or Batatus, cultivated by the Spanish and Portuguese; +it is supposed to have been brought over from the Continent early in +the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It was a vegetable much liked by those who +could get it, and this is the potato of which one of Shakespeare's +characters says, 'Let it rain potatoes and hail kissing comforts.' + +No one can tell positively who, of the voyagers to America, towards the +end of the sixteenth century, it was who came upon the true potato and +brought it back to his own country, more as a curious plant than for any +other reason. Some have given the credit to the great Sir Walter +Raleigh, but it seems more likely that he himself was not the +discoverer, but one of his followers, named Heriot. In a book Heriot +wrote he exactly describes the potato amongst his finds, calling it +'open-awk,' a name he had heard in America. 'There are roundish roots,' +he says, 'some the size of a walnut, some much bigger; these hang +together on the other roots, and are good either boiled or roasted.' By +roasting he no doubt meant putting them in the hot ashes of a fire. The +question of how potatoes should be cooked seems to have been troublesome +at first. People dipped them in hot water, and then complained that they +were hard, or sticky like glue. Potatoes brought to the table of King +James I. are said to have cost two shillings a pound, and for a long +while the vegetable remained scarce, perhaps because people did not know +the best way to raise a crop as we do now, by planting slices of the +tubers. Several of the old books only refer to it as an ornamental +garden plant. + +Sir Walter Raleigh does appear to have introduced this vegetable into +Ireland, at least. Going one spring to his estate at Youghal, Cork, he +took some potatoes, and gave them to his gardener, who planted them. +Fine specimens had grown up in August, but the gardener did not think +the berries were of any good, and told Sir Walter he did not admire the +wonderful American plant. 'Then pull it up and throw it away,' said Sir +Walter; but when the man saw the potatoes on the roots, he thought +differently. + +The first place in England where the potato was grown in fields was +North Meols, Lancashire, about 1694. For many years the Scotch only grew +it as a curiosity, till Thomas Prentice, of Kilsyth, stocked his garden +with potatoes in 1728, and distributed them amongst the villages near. +Early in the reign of Queen Victoria, it had become abundant, especially +in Ireland; but the potato disease or murrain caused great distress in +1845 and later, nor has it ever been got rid of entirely. The potato has +been introduced to our Indian Empire, and though it was unpopular at +first, the people have since become partial to it. + +J. R. S. C. + + + + +DOCTOR ABERNETHY'S ADVICE. + + +Doctor Abernethy, the great surgeon, was famous for his short, pointed +sayings and good advice, as well as for his skill as a doctor. One day a +gentleman who was accustomed to live in great luxury, and who suffered +from gout in consequence of this easy life, came to consult him. He told +the great surgeon all his ailments, and how he usually lived, and asked +what he ought to do. + +'Live on sixpence a day--and earn it!' was the reply of Dr. Abernethy. + +[Illustration: "'Live on sixpence a day--and earn it!'"] + +[Illustration: "Seven miles high!"] + + + + +CRUISERS IN THE CLOUDS. + +VIII.--THE HIGHEST FLIGHT--SEPTEMBER 5, 1862. + + +The frequent and successful voyages in balloons at last led scientific +men to wonder if the ascents might not be used for solving some of +nature's riddles, and so conferring benefits on mankind, instead of +being undertaken only as pleasure trips. It was to help answer this +question that, in 1862, Mr. James Glaisher began a series of balloon +voyages. He was by no means the pioneer in this class of enterprise, for +many others--both French and English--had been up with the same object +some years before. But as Mr. James Glaisher, with his captain, Mr. +Coxwell, went higher than any one before or after, his flight ought to +be given special attention. + +In order to make careful observations, it was necessary to take a large +number of delicate instruments, and these were arranged on a board, +which rested its ends on either side of the car. Seated before this +narrow table, Mr. Glaisher meant to read the secret of the skies. When +all was ready, Mr. Coxwell weighed anchor, and a few moments later the +city of Wolverhampton, from which they rose, was almost lost in the vast +tract of country upon which their eyes rested. + +It was the third ascent these gentlemen had made together, and the +wonders Mr. Glaisher had witnessed on the two previous occasions must +have been more than enough to lead him to seek for more. He had pierced +the densest rain-clouds, and had seen the shadow of the balloon on the +white upper surface of the clouds surrounded by lovely circular +rainbows. He had peeped through holes in these clouds on to the world +beneath, which looked more like a misty picture than real meadows and +towns and rivers. Such experiences were more beautiful than any tales of +fairyland--because they were true. + +But to-day he was to have a new and strange journey. At five thousand +feet above ground the balloon entered a mass of rain-clouds, one +thousand feet thick, and four minutes later they broke through into +sunshine. Mr. Glaisher tried to take a photograph of these clouds from +above, but the balloon rose too rapidly and kept turning round. At +twenty-one thousand feet (or four miles high) Mr. Coxwell found it +difficult to breathe, while it needed a great effort to tilt more sand +over the edge of the car. Up and up they sailed--four and a half, five, +five and a half miles--and the sky grew more and more intensely blue +till it became, at last, almost black. + +Even now, at a height of twenty-nine thousand feet, when hoar-frost was +forming on the sides of the balloon, and the daring travellers were +stung with a cold more severe than that of the coldest winter day, the +instruments went on observing the wonders of the atmosphere without +themselves being observed. Mr. Glaisher, who had for some minutes found +a difficulty in seeing the small marks on his instruments, lay back +quite insensible against the side of the car. He had not fainted +suddenly. First, he tells us, his arms refused to move when he tried to +reach the various instruments. Then, as his eyes fell on Mr. Coxwell, +who had climbed into the ring to reach the valve-rope, he tried to +speak; but the power of speech was gone, and a moment later he lost all +consciousness. + +The balloon was still ascending, and, to Mr. Coxwell's horror, he found +that the terrible cold had turned his hands black, and robbed them of +all muscular power. His position was one of great danger, seated as he +was in that slender car miles above the earth, and so numbed by the cold +that he could not hold the ropes. He reached the valve-cord at last, +however, and, seizing it between his teeth, gave it two or three +vigorous jerks. The balloon stopped ascending. Hooking his numbed arms +over the ring, he dropped safely into the car. As he did so, he noticed +that the blue hand of the barometer stood perpendicular. _The balloon +had ceased to climb at seven miles high!_ + +His efforts to restore Mr. Glaisher were soon successful, and, by the +time the earth was again reached, no ill effects from the wonderful +adventure were to be felt. + +We must mention six other passengers that took part in the journey: +these were pigeons. One was liberated at three miles high, but dropped +with wide-open wings like a sheet of paper until denser air was reached. +A second, at four miles, was evidently a stronger bird, for it flew +vigorously round and round, gradually descending. A third, dropped a +little higher, fell like a stone; and another, thrown out at four miles, +on the way down, took a comfortable perch on the top of the balloon. + +This famous flight of Messrs. Coxwell and Glaisher is still a record. No +other balloon has ever ascended to so great a height, and, when a +similar attempt was made in France by three celebrated aeronauts, two of +them lost their lives at a height of five miles, owing to the rarity of +the atmosphere they had to breathe. + +The illustration of the scene in the balloon, on page 265, is copied +from Mr. Glaisher's _Travels in the Air_, published by Messrs. Macmillan +& Co., Ltd., who have kindly given leave for its reproduction. + +JOHN LEA. + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 259._) + +CHAPTER IX. + + +When Charlie arrived at his home, in an unmistakably ill-fitting suit of +clothes and accompanied by a Chinaman, equally badly dressed, he caused +great surprise to his family. If he had returned dressed in +'fear-noughts' and a jersey, or even in 'oilies,' they would not have +been surprised, but there was nothing nautical about his present +attire. + +'Well, my boy,' Charlie's father said to him, after Ping Wang had been +introduced, 'have you had a good time?' + +'Well, not exactly,' Charlie answered, 'but I have discovered that +Skipper Drummond is an old rascal, and that he believes he will have no +difficulty in swindling you.' + +'He is not the first person who has thought that and has lived to find +that he has made a mistake. However, you can tell me all about it after +dinner. You had better run upstairs and change your clothes.' + +After dinner, Charlie related all that had happened to him, from the +time he met the bow-legged cook until he came back to Grimsby. + +'I suspected that you would have a rough time,' Mr. Page said, when +Charlie had finished his story, 'but I never thought that you would meet +with so many unpleasant adventures. However, as you have discovered that +Skipper Drummond is a dishonourable man, I am not sorry that you went to +sea. I don't suppose you will be in a hurry to go again.' + +'I want to go very soon,' Charlie replied. 'I want to go to China with +Ping Wang.' + +'To settle there?' + +'Oh, no; simply to recover Ping Wang's family riches.' + +Mr. Page and Fred, not knowing whether Charlie was serious or not, made +no remark. + +'I'm quite sane,' Charlie declared, seeing that they were surprised; +'Ping Wang will tell you about it.' + +Ping Wang, thus called upon, repeated the story of his father's death +and the seizure of all his property by Chin Choo. + +'But how do you know that Chin Choo still possesses the idol with the +secret drawer?' Mr. Page inquired, when Ping Wang finished speaking. 'He +may have sold it?' + +'That is not at all likely,' Ping Wang declared. 'I know that he has had +it fixed up in his chief room, and there it will remain as long as the +house stands, or until Chin Choo moves somewhere else.' + +'And you think that Chin Choo cannot discover that the idol contains +precious stones?' + +'I am certain of it. My father was a richer man than Chin Choo imagined, +and the wealth that the murderer found in our house was more than he had +expected. He is quite certain that he has found all my father's wealth. +If he were not, he would never think of looking for it in the image.' + +'But do you think it possible to get into Chin Choo's house and remove +the idol without being discovered?' + +'I am certain of it; of course, I shall watch for a favourable +opportunity.' + +'Well,' Mr. Page said, after a few moments' thought, 'I must think over +the matter for a few days before deciding whether I can permit Charlie +to accompany you.' + +'I wish I could go with them,' Fred joined in. 'I don't desire a share +of the treasure. I simply want to go for the experience.' + +'But how about your studies?' Mr. Page asked. + +'I wouldn't neglect them. I would read hard on board, and as my next +examination does not come on for nearly two years, I shall have plenty +of time. And when I'm in China I shall be able to study tropical +diseases. Medical men are very keen on that, nowadays.' + +'Well, if Charlie goes, I see no reason why you should not; but it +requires serious consideration.' + +'I will share my portion of the treasure with you,' Charlie said to his +brother, but Ping Wang objected to that arrangement. + +'We will each have a third of what the rubies realise,' he declared, +and, in spite of all protests, he insisted that the division of the +treasure, if they ever got it, should be made in that way. + +Mr. Page listened in silence to their conversation. He was by no means +convinced that Ping Wang's story was not an Oriental fiction, invented +to arouse sympathy and obtain a free passage home. Now, as it happened, +Mr. Page had a friend who was the senior partner of a large firm of +Chinese merchants, and had himself resided in China for many years, and +he decided, therefore, to question him as to the probability of Ping +Wang's story. A day or two later Mr. Page went to London and had an +interview with this friend, who confirmed many details of Ping Wang's +story, and even came down to Lincolnshire to see the Chinaman in person. + +Ping Wang was delighted when he found that the merchant had lived in his +country for many years, and could speak his language fluently. + +'Ping Wang's story is, I am convinced, quite true,' the merchant said to +Mr. Page, when they were alone, 'but his plan is a very risky one.' + +'I know, but that has only made them more anxious to go. It is another +case of "like father like son." If I had not travelled while young, I am +sure I should never have settled down. And the fact that in every place +I visited I found scores of Englishmen yearning to return home made me +feel that I was a fortunate man to see our distant possessions without +being doomed to pass my life in exile. I have sufficient money to keep a +home for my children, but I want my sons to be able to earn a living and +hold their own by themselves; and I think that, as I have the means to +permit them to travel before settling down, they will do well to learn +as much as they can of the world outside England. They shall go with +Ping Wang. If they help Ping Wang to secure his inheritance, I shall of +course be pleased, but I shall be glad for both the lads to gain +experience, and I hope they will return in good health.' + +A little later Mr. Page told Charlie and Fred that he had decided to +allow them to go to China, an announcement which was received with great +delight. The next day he went to the shipping agent's, and finding that +a boat would start from Liverpool to Hong-kong in twelve days' time, +booked saloon passages for Fred, Charlie, and Ping Wang. + +'To-morrow,' Mr. Page said to his sons and Ping Wang after he had +returned from the shipping agent's, 'you must see about your outfit. The +time is very short.' + +[Illustration: "There was nothing nautical about Charlie's present +attire."] + +'I think, sir,' Ping Wang said, 'that the clothes I have will be good +enough.' + +'Would you not like to go in your native dress?' + +Ping Wang's eyes brightened. + +'Yes,' he answered, 'but you have paid my passage.' + +'Don't let that thought trouble you. When you have got back your jewels, +you will be able to offer to repay me.' + +'You are very generous, sir,' Ping Wang declared. + +'Nonsense,' Mr. Page answered. 'You have been a good friend to my boy +and have had a rough time since you have been in England. If you carry +away a better impression of our country than you would otherwise have +done, I shall consider myself repaid for what I have been able to do for +you.' + +(_Continued on page 277._) + +[Illustration: A Scene in Regent's Park.] + + + + +THE PARKS OF LONDON.--III. + + +Happiest of little Londoners are those who are so fortunate as to live +near enough to the Regent's Park for it to form their daily playground. +To them the wooded shores of the winding lake, with its three long arms +crossed by bridges that rock delightfully, must seem like a little +world, with mountains, bays, capes, forests, and many more wonderful +things, just as in the great world itself. It is filled with so many +living things that dwell round the banks of the lake--the stately swans, +the many varieties of the duck family that swim and fly and chase each +other all day long, the gentle moorhens gliding in and out of the +rushes, and the mother vole or water-rat nibbling a juicy bit of grass +in the sunshine, or swimming to cover with her babies on her back; and +now and again the peace of this little world is rudely broken by the +distant roar of a real lion or the shriek of a hungry hyena, which +frightens all the smaller animals into silence. + +Perhaps no greater benefit ever befell the good folk of London town than +when, early in the nineteenth century, it occurred to the authorities to +turn the old Royal Park of St. Mary-le-bone into a real people's park. A +great many plans were suggested for laying out the ground. One very +ornamental scheme was probably rejected because of its expense; in it a +fine church was to form a central point, with avenues running from it +like spokes of a wheel. The design which was accepted and carried out +consists of four oval drives lying like rings inside one another; in the +centre of the inside one are the Royal Botanical Gardens. Rare and +wonderful treasures of vegetable life are kept there--flowering plants +and shrubs, palms, ferns, mosses, water-plants, and trees from many +lands, each the object of deep thought and care. From time to time grand +floral fetes are held in the gardens, and often on summer evenings +Shakespeare's plays are acted in the open air. + +The northern side of the park is chiefly given up to the Zoological +Gardens; and, indeed, to the world at large, apart from Londoners, +Regent's Park often means nothing but 'the Zoo.' Probably it is safe to +say that no other park in the world annually attracts so many visitors. + +The collection at the Zoological Gardens was begun in 1828, and amongst +the first arrivals were the lions from the Tower, for, from ancient +days, lions and bears kept the old royal fortress lively. Great sums of +money have been spent in securing fine specimens, and now Britons have +the satisfaction of knowing that our Zoo is second to none. Amongst +recent arrivals at the gardens were two young gorillas from Western +Africa, who reached the Zoo in apparent health, but, as has happened on +former occasions, after a few weeks the poor things sickened and died. +Whether they suffer from the effects of the voyage, or whether the shock +of their capture is too great for them, the fact remains that gorillas +seem unable to endure the altered conditions of life which most of the +other members of the great ape family can put up with. + +But, with all the attractions of the Zoo, it would not do to be +dependent on it for amusement, for even on Monday, 'the people's day,' +it costs sixpence, and many of the park's most frequent visitors find +pennies hard to come by. Pleasure has to be sought and found on the +various recreation grounds, and, in fine weather, cricket and other +games are usually in full swing. + +A very favourite walk with many visitors is to Primrose Hill, north-west +of the Zoo, which rises two hundred and nineteen feet above sea-level, +where the air is usually clear and bright, whilst the view over London +is very fine. The hill is the property of Eton College, and is separated +from the Zoo by the Regent's Canal, as well as by the Albert Road. +Beneath the slope is a fine gymnasium, which still further adds to the +attractions of the park, and many fine terraces of houses line the outer +circles. + +The park takes its name from the Prince Regent, afterwards George IV. + +HELENA HEATH. + + + + +NEVER CAUGHT IT. + + +'He is always very busy,' said one man to another. + +'Yes,' answered a gentleman who knew the person in question. 'He is so +lazy in getting up that he loses an hour every morning, and spends all +the rest of the day in running after it.' + +An hour lost means an hour which can only be regained by neglecting +other work. + + + + +RAT-SKINS. + + +The Japanese are a wonderful people, and their foresight in even the +smallest matters is really marvellous. Here is a case in point. + +Late in 1904, when the time came to forward the winter outfits for their +soldiers fighting in Manchuria, amongst the wadded overcoats and thick +blankets were some hundreds of thousands of ear-protectors made out of +rats' skins. + +Even the military authorities were surprised by these, and wondered +where the Government could have found so many rats as to be able to +supply their soldiers with such soft and comfortable coverings for their +ears. + +It seems that two years ago plague was raging along the China coast, +and, to keep the disease out of Japan, the quarantine authorities made +war against the rats. In all the seaports and larger cities rewards were +offered for each rat brought; small boys found this a delightful way of +earning money, and the competition at once became very keen. + +Every rat was duly registered, and the place where it was caught noted, +and if any suspicious germs were found, the building from which the rat +came was raided, all the rats in it hunted down, and the place +disinfected. So the plague was kept out of Japan. + +Meanwhile the rat-skins had not been thrown away; war was even then +threatening, and ear-protectors _might_ be wanted. + +So the rat-skins were all thoroughly cleansed and disinfected, and made +into ear-protectors, and now have proved a great blessing to the +soldiers in the field. + + + + +THE OLD CLOCK. + + +None of my early recollections of our pretty little home in England is +so clear as that of the old grandfather's clock that stood in the hall. +I remember that my mother and father were very fond of it, and when my +brother and I once grumbled, saying, 'That old clock is always slow,' my +mother reproved us with the words: 'Oh, children, you must not say that, +for the fact that it often goes slow when the big hand is going up +towards the hour was the very thing that once saved your +great-grandfather's life.' + +That was the curious thing about the clock. Every now and then, for some +reason, the minute-hand seemed to work loose, soon after the half-hour, +and, before it reached the three-quarters, it lost five minutes. It +might manage to go a whole day without doing this; but sooner or later +it always happened, so that the clock could not be relied upon for time. + +Of course, we were very eager to hear the story, and, as we sat round +the fire that evening, my mother told us the following tale:-- + +'You know, children, that we have not always lived in England; my +ancestors were French, and lived at Chateau Roquefort, in the province +of La Vendee. When the great insurrection broke out in the year 1792, my +grandfather, Philippe de Roquefort, was one of the leading insurgents +against the Republic. For a time the insurrection was successful, and +the Republican generals were driven across the Loire. But at last there +came a time when Philippe de Roquefort saw that to resist any longer was +hopeless, and, as he had a wife and a little son, he resolved that, for +their sakes, it was prudent to flee to England. + +'They had abandoned Roquefort itself three days before, but the evening +before their leaving France, Philippe was obliged to ride over to the +chateau (five miles or so from the little town where he and his family, +with about a dozen trusty followers, had taken refuge) to fetch some +important papers. + +'The whole neighbourhood swarmed with Republicans, but, with his +knowledge of the country, he reached the deserted chateau safely. + +'The whole place had a forsaken air as Philippe entered the hall he knew +so well, where all his happy boyhood had been spent; but one familiar +object caught his eye--the old clock, which had been too cumbersome to +take with them in their flight, and which was still ticking in its +accustomed manner. Philippe secured his papers, and was just leaving the +chateau, taking a last fond look at his home, when a heavy hand pulled +him backwards, and, before he could reach his sword, he was bound hand +and foot. + +'"We have caught the bird in his own nest," said a loud voice--and the +boisterous laughter of several men made the rafters in the old hall +ring. + +'Philippe saw that he had been captured by five rough Republicans, who +dragged him into the middle of the hall and then sat round him, +consulting as to his fate. At last they decided that, at a quarter to +six by the old clock, he should be shot. They had some time to wait +before going back to their camp. + +'Philippe gave himself up for lost. The ruffians soon began to jeer at +him, and asked if he had any messages for his friends. Then my +grandfather lost all his patience, and throwing aside all prudence, +cried: "Yes, you villains, if I had my faithful followers here, they +would soon make an end of you." + +'The men laughed at this, but suddenly a cruel idea struck one of them. + +'"Yes," he said, "Monsieur shall have his way"--and, looking up at the +clock, he continued: "It is now five o'clock; Pierre, the peasant's son, +who lives yonder, shall ride with a message to these devoted followers. +Monsieur shall be shot at a quarter to six; but he can write and tell +his friends to be here at ten minutes to the hour; they will come and +find Monsieur--five minutes too late. We can get away easily enough +before they arrive." + +'His comrades agreed to this plan, which gave an adventurous tone to +their enterprise, and inflicted, as well, extra misery upon their +prisoner. + +'A scrap of paper and a pencil were given to my grandfather; but, as he +was writing, Philippe remembered with joy that the old clock on which +his captors were relying had not yet lost its five minutes that day; he +had noticed this as he glanced round the hall before his capture; and, +therefore, at a quarter to six--the time when, by the clock, he was +going to be put to death--it _might_ be ten minutes to the hour by the +proper time--if the clock only went wrong for once at a convenient time! + +'The peasant-boy, Pierre, was sent with the message, and the men settled +themselves down to ransacking the house, exulting over the trick they +were going to play. + +'The time crept by. As a quarter to six drew near Philippe was bound to +a tree, and the men set to work to load their muskets! Had the clock +lost five minutes, or not? Every minute of waiting seemed like an hour, +and Philippe could not be sure whether the hand had stuck still too +long, or not. He thought it had, but could he trust his eyes in such a +terrible situation? + +'You can imagine my grandfather's feelings during those last few awful +minutes! A hundred conjectures flashed through his mind. Suppose the boy +never gave the message! or suppose the men were late! or suppose the +clock was not slow after all! + +'At last the Republicans were ready, and Philippe gave himself up for +lost. Suddenly the sound of horses' hoofs was heard breaking through the +undergrowth. The Republicans hesitated, and, as they stood undecided, +ten or a dozen men rode up hastily. They were only just in time; the +Republicans fought for a few minutes, but they were taken by surprise, +and soon surrendered. Philippe was saved!' + + * * * * * + +'What a narrow escape, Mother,' we cried, 'and if it had not been for +the old clock's habit of losing time----' + +'Well, my dear, the story would have ended very differently.' + +[Illustration: "The men set to work to load their muskets."] + +[Illustration: "''Tis the very man!'"] + + + + +HEROES AND HEROINES OF FAMOUS BOOKS. + +III.--GARTH AND HIS FRIENDS.[4] + + +This striking story belongs to the days of the Great French Revolution +of 1792. The hero is a young Englishman, the son of Colonel Mainwaring, +of the 2nd Dragoon Guards, and at the time the story opens he is on a +visit to Paris to his uncle and aunt. Before we narrate one or two +striking incidents of his life in France, however, we must say +something, very briefly, about the French Revolution, during which so +many terrible things were done that it was known as the Reign of Terror. +One of the grievances of the people in France was that the power of the +nobles had greatly increased, so that they did as they liked. Though +they claimed unlimited privileges, yet they refused to take up the +responsibilities of their position, and even evaded the taxes which they +laid on the shoulders of the people. One unpopular tax was the +_gabelle_, or salt tax, which compelled every person to bring a fixed +quantity of salt every year, and made them buy it of certain people who +alone had the right to sell, and charged enormous prices. The peasants, +too, had to work on the roads for nothing, leaving their farms and +little plots of ground whenever they were ordered. They could not earn +enough to live on, and what with heavy dues to their lords, and the +State interference with trade, they were in a wretched plight, and +discontent was widespread. Then famous writers, moved by what was going +on around them, wrote strongly against the abuse of power by the nobles +and the King, teaching that kings were but the servants of the people. +The poor, ignorant, downtrodden peasantry, urged by the selfish trading +classes who used them for their own ends, united in a great movement to +take away the privileges of the nobles. The serfs flung off the heavy +yoke, and went to the worst excesses, burning and wrecking the palaces +of their former masters, utterly ruining them and driving them out of +the country. + +The Commons, or National Assembly as they styled themselves, did not +stop when they had introduced reforms that were really needed, but did +just as their passion against the aristocrats and the rich dictated. +Things passed from bad to worse when the King, who had the right of +refusing the proposals of the National Assembly, exercised his right and +vetoed (from _veto_, I forbid) two of their decrees. This made the +people furious. All this was new to Garth Mainwaring, as also was the +procession of noisy people, marching through the streets to the beating +of drums, carrying banners, and howling and shouting at any well-dressed +people they met. Garth saw the mob battering at the doors of the King's +palace, calling for his Majesty to come out, and when the King, in quiet +dignity, stood before them, they ordered him to put on the red cap of +liberty, and grossly insulted him and his beautiful Queen and their +children. + +Garth had felt his blood leap up as he witnessed this, and in his young +enthusiasm he longed to fight on the side of the royal prisoner and his +nobles. On the evening of one dreadful day, during which the mob had +done wild things, as Garth was passing on towards the Rue Saint Honore, +he heard a faint voice on his left hand. It came from the figure of a +man huddled in a doorway, who had been mortally wounded and was rapidly +dying. + +'Sir,' gasped the man, in English, 'Sir, save my daughter. Go to her, +sir, and give her her father's dying blessing.' + +'I will go, sir,' said Garth. 'Will you tell me your name?' + +'The Baron de Mericourt. I was in the palace. I got away as by a miracle, +but I fell among the ruffians here, and they have done for me. Waste no +more time, I implore you. Save my darling Lucile, and tell her her +father----' But here, with one more gasp, he died. + +Another striking adventure befell our hero at Nantes. It was after he +had offered to throw in his lot with Bonchamps, a leader of the +loyalists, and donned the white cockade of those whose watch-word was +'for God and the King.' He was asked whether he would make an attempt, +as they were to attack Nantes, a stronghold of the 'Blues,' to find out +the enemy's position. Of course he agreed; there were no dangers in the +path of duty that could deter Garth. He was disguised in a peasant's +dress, and carried a basket full of live pigeons, which he was to offer +for sale as he journeyed. Nantes was a strong position, strongly +fortified and manned by the enemy, yet the brave peasants and loyalists +of the Vendee determined to endeavour to take it for the young King (for +the unhappy Louis XVI. and his beautiful Queen had been put to death by +the influence of the more savage leaders of the Revolutionary party). It +was late in the evening when Garth started. It would be nearly midnight +before he could reach the city. When he came within two miles of the +town he saw a barge, laden with wood, moving slowly down the river. +Hailing the old man on board, who was holding the rudder, and allowing +the laden craft to drift down with the tide, 'Hola,' cried Garth, 'He! +can you give me a lift down to the quay?' + +'Who are you?' asked the bargeman, Jules Viard by name. + +'A poor chap with a pair of pigeons to sell.' + +The man agreed to the request, and Garth sprang on to the barge as soon +as it came within jumping distance, and it resumed its slow passage down +the river. Presently the vessel was steered alongside the quay, where +the good-natured boatman made her fast for the night, sleeping in her +himself to save the few sous he would otherwise have had to pay for his +bed; but Garth went along on the riverside, as he wished to look about +him to learn what he could of the strength and position of the enemy. + +As his wooden shoes clicked on the stone paving, he stripped them off +and strung them round his neck. The cathedral clock struck the hour of +midnight. On and on he went, using his eyes well. He had reached the +Paris road, up which his friends of the Vendean army would probably +approach, when he saw an immense obstruction. Climbing a tree, the +better to look about him, he found that the obstruction was a big +redoubt, very solidly constructed. Scaling garden walls and getting +behind the redoubt, he satisfied himself that it could be taken from the +rear, and being by this time very tired, he lay down under a hedge to +sleep till daylight. + +The next morning he sold his pigeons to a lieutenant of the National +Guard for forty sous, and spent the rest of the day walking about the +town with his friend, Viard the bargeman, leaving him at nightfall to +begin his return journey. Turning down a narrow passage leading to the +river, between two high warehouses, he saw three men, and, as it turned +out, men whom he had met before, all enemies to the King's cause. One of +them, the Mayor, stopped him. + +'Well, my man, where are you going?' + +Garth turned his head aside. + +'Where are you going?' repeated the Mayor. + +'Down to the river, citizen. Came in last night on a barge to sell +pigeons.' + +'On a barge, eh? Were you molested by the brigands?' + +'No, citizen; I joined the barge some two miles up, and saw nothing of +brigands.' + +The man standing to the left of the Mayor started as he heard the tone +of Garth's voice. He looked closely into Garth's face, suddenly pulled +off his hat, and with a quick cry, ''Tis the very man!' tried to seize +him. Quick as thought, Garth slipped aside, then, before the other two +had recovered from their surprise at their companion's strange action, +he rushed at the Mayor, threw him over backwards, turned and flung his +basket in the face of the other, then wheeled round and ran as fast as +the clumsy sabots would allow him, clattering down the passage towards +the river, the man behind him shouting, 'Help! a spy--a brigand--help!' +Two of his enemies dashed after him, and the Mayor picked himself up and +toddled off as fast as his short legs would carry him to call up the +nearest guard, two hundred yards away. The National Guard was soon +aroused, and the whole garrison was under arms. The dauntless Englishman +reached the river. He did not hesitate; pulling off his shoes and +flinging them at his pursuers, now only ten yards away, he plunged into +the river. A soldier with his gun arrived, pointed his musket at Garth's +head, and fired; Garth twisted over and dived, and the bullet hit the +water just behind him. Others of the guard came up, fired at his bobbing +head, but missed it. On he swam boldly, determinedly; and now the firing +has ceased, although he can hear the clamour. His courage and presence +of mind had saved him; he was now in a friendly country, and the first +man he met was wearing the King's cockade! + +But here we must leave our hero, proud that he was an Englishman, and +that he afterwards distinguished himself by many deeds of valour, +passing unhurt through many dangers, from the worst of which he was +rescued by his old friend, Viard the bargeman. How he presently married +Lucile de Mericourt, and accepted an appointment at Lisbon, and what +became of his friends and foes, is all told by Mr. Rendel in his fine +and stirring book, which every British boy who is ready to cheer pluck +should read for himself. + +JAMES CASSIDY. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[4] _The King's Cockade_, by H. Rendel. (Wells Gardner, Darton, & Co., +Limited, London.) + + + + +ANIMAL MAKESHIFTS. + +True Anecdotes. + +III.--TALKS WITHOUT WORDS. + + +Anybody watching a chance meeting in the street between two animals must +see that they hold some sort of conversation. By sounds, signs, or both, +they 'pass the time of day,' and make remarks. After settling affairs in +their own language, they part, either as the best of friends, or, more +frankly than politely, saying, 'Well, I hope I shall never see _you_ +again!' + +Out in the fields, what horse can bear to see another horse, or even a +donkey, turned into the next paddock without running up to have a chat +with him? Horses that work together are always on speaking terms. Much +rubbing of soft noses, pricking backwards and forwards of the ears, with +a snort, playful bite, or whinny, is their talk. After much talk of this +sort between two splendid cart-horses, standing in harness, I once saw a +fine plan carried out. They had been drawing a heavy load, and were +quietly enjoying their feed, each from the nosebag dangling at his head. +But the corn dwindled and the last grains of it were hard to reach. It +was then that a brilliant idea struck horse number one. He lifted his +bag to the middle pole, which he used as a prop; but then there was no +room for his companion's bag on it. Horse number two, apparently after +asking leave, hoisted his own bag even higher still, and, balancing it +on his friend's head, fed in comfort. The pair munched peacefully on, +and next day I saw them doing the same thing again. + +All animals have a language of sound and sign, which they use as +intelligently as deaf and dumb men use the means of expressing thought +invented for them. Creatures that live in troops are always under the +control of a leader, who manages them by word of mouth or by gestures. + +Lieutenant Shipp, in his memoirs, tells of a Cape baboon who was so +dishonest as to bring his companions to the barracks, to carry off the +soldiers' clothes. The thefts became serious, and a party of soldiers +were told off to march against the robbers, and to bring back the booty +hidden in the caves of the baboons. But the animal warriors were too +cunning. They sent out scouts, to watch the enemy's movements, told off +about fifty of their number to guard the entrance to the caves, and +posted the rest at various points. The soldiers saw the baboons +collecting large stones, and the old grey-headed rascal, who had been +ring-leader in raiding the camp, was seen giving orders like a real +general. At a scream from him they rolled down great stones upon the +men, who were forced to retreat. + +Comic as the monkey-folk sometimes are, they can make very touching +appeals; they plead very earnestly in their wordless way for their own +lives, and still more tenderly on behalf of their helpless young. A +letter from Demarara thus describes a meeting between a mother baboon +and two men with guns. Mr. S---- levelled his gun to shoot her. The +animal seemed at once to understand what would probably take place, and +appealingly held out in each hand a baby baboon. His friend said, 'Don't +shoot.' 'No, I was not going to,' said Mr. S----. So Mrs. Baboon and her +family escaped unhurt, the mother showing, it will be agreed, something +greater than ordinary instinct. + +[Illustration: "Balancing the bag on his friend's head."] + +Something greater? Yes, love; the greatest of all instincts, higher than +reason itself. It is when filled with love for her defenceless babe that +the animal-mother learns, by many a wonderful makeshift, to appeal to +our pity, and forgets herself for its sake. A beautiful instance of this +was lately given in the _Daily News_. + +A labourer, going along a lane, met a little robin redbreast. She flew +boldly within reach of his hand, almost dashing against his face, and as +he passed on tried to hinder him, uttering all the while piercing cries. +At last he stopped at a hole to which she kept flying, and found a rat +in the act of carrying off one of her nestlings. The labourer was able +to kill the enemy by a blow of his stick as it darted across the lane, +and the small mother, after hovering with a different and triumphant +note over the poor little dead bird, went gladly home. + +In countries where snakes abound, the shriek of a bird whose nest is +threatened serves as a signal to its winged neighbours, who throng to +the spot and drive away, or often kill, the enemy. Sometimes the ways +in which creatures communicate are altogether mysterious. An old goose, +who had spent a fortnight hatching eggs in a farmer's kitchen, was +suddenly taken ill. She left her nest, waddled to a neighbouring +outhouse, and persuaded a young goose to go back with her. The young one +instantly scrambled into the vacant nest, and hatched and afterwards +brought up the brood. The old goose sat down by the side of the nest to +die. As the young goose had never reared a brood before, nor been inside +the kitchen, the elder must somehow have explained the duties to her, +and the younger have understood and accepted the charge. + +[Illustration: "Mrs. Baboon and her family escaped unhurt."] + +It seems, then, that want of understanding on our part, rather than +stupidity on theirs, prevents a closer understanding between ourselves +and the animal creation. Though we are not able to bridge over the gulf +separating speechless animals and men, we may at least take care that +the dumb prayers of the 'lower brethren' never fall on wilfully deaf +ears, or on unkind hearts. + +EDITH CARRINGTON. + +[Illustration: "'Good evening, skipper!'"] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 269._) + +CHAPTER X. + + +The result of Mr. Page's generosity was that when Fred and Charlie went +to a tailor's, Ping Wang ordered a Chinese costume. A week later it was +sent home, and when Ping Wang put it on, and permitted his pigtail to +hang down, he looked quite a different man. That day the family were +sitting talking over the coming voyage when a maid came in. + +'A man wants to see you, sir,' she said to Mr. Page. 'He says his name +is Skipper Drummond.' + +'What a lark!' Charlie exclaimed to Ping Wang. 'Shall we carry him down +the garden, and pitch him in the duck-pond?' + +'Show Skipper Drummond in,' Mr. Page said to the maid, and as she +departed he continued, 'Now, you boys and Ping Wang, go into the +conservatory, and wait there until I call you.' + +Fred, Charlie, and Ping Wang stepped into the conservatory, and seated +themselves on a rustic bench, so that they could hear what the skipper +said without being seen by him. + +'Skipper Drummond, sir,' the maid said, as she reopened the door. + +The bullying little skipper had evidently made a strong effort to look +respectable. He was attired in a shiny black frock-coat, and had it not +been for his brightly-coloured tie, one would have imagined that he was +going to a funeral. In one hand he held a tall hat; in the other he +carried two stiff-looking black gloves. + +'Good evening, sir,' he said, as he stepped gingerly across the room, +showing as much respect for the carpet as if it was newly-sown grass. + +'Take a seat,' Mr. Page said, and he did so. + +'I've come about the _Sparrow-hawk_, sir,' he said, endeavouring to +appear more comfortable than he felt. + +'Yes.' + +'We've had a grand time, sir. Every voyage the _Sparrow-hawk_ makes she +improves. There is not a trawler in the North Sea catches more fish than +the _Sparrow-hawk_. She's a beauty, sir; and every one in Grimsby and +Hull knows it. Two of the big fleet-owners want to buy her.' + +'I suppose that they did not offer so much for her as you are asking +from me?' + +'They offered more, sir.' + +'Then why did you not accept one of the offers?' + +'Because it wouldn't have been acting square with you, sir. I am a +straightforward man, I am; and having offered the _Sparrow-hawk_ to you +at a certain price, I bide by my word.' + +'That is very good of you--very good, indeed. It is not often that I +meet with such an honourable business man.' + +Skipper Drummond sighed deeply, as if he was sincerely sorry for the +fact that there were some men who were very dishonourable. + +'My idea was,' Mr. Page said, after a few moments' silence, 'to purchase +the _Sparrow-hawk_ for my son, and start him in business as a +steam-trawler owner. Perhaps it would be well if I introduced you to him +at once.' + +'I shall be proud to make the young gentleman's acquaintance. I am not a +man to boast, sir; but if any one can produce a man that knows more +about North Sea fishing than I do, I'm a Dutchman.' + +'Charlie!' Mr. Page called out loudly, and in walked from the +conservatory Charlie, Ping Wang, and Fred. + +'Good evening, skipper!' Charlie exclaimed, cheerfully. + +'Good evening, skipper!' Ping Wang added, equally cheerfully. + +Skipper Drummond dropped his hat and gloves, and almost started out of +his chair. Evidently he had never expected to see either Charlie or Ping +Wang again. + +'Have you brought us the clothes which we left on the _Sparrow-hawk_?' +Charlie inquired. + +'And the pay which you owe me?' Ping Wang added. + +'I thought that you were both drowned,' the skipper gasped. + +'And no doubt you are almost sorry that we were not,' Charlie remarked. +'However, we have told my father what a wretched old tub the +_Sparrow-hawk_ is. We have told him that she is rotten; that her boilers +are worn out; that her gear is not up-to-date; that she has the smallest +catches of any Grimsby trawler. We have told him also that you have been +keeping down expenses by half-starving your men, and that you are the +vilest little bully that ever held a captain's certificate.' + +'And they also told me,' Mr. Page joined in, 'that you confessed to one +of your men that you were about to sell the _Sparrow-hawk_ for half as +much again as she was worth. Let me assure you that you will do nothing +of the kind. I would not give half the sum which you ask for her. From +the first I suspected that you were a swindler, and it was to obtain +proof of it that my son shipped with you as a cook. Have you anything +that you wish to say in your defence, or will you go at once?' + +Skipper Drummond picked up his hat and gloves, and without uttering a +word walked out of the room. He was white with rage, but he dared not +express his anger in words such as he would have used on the +_Sparrow-hawk_, for Charlie accompanied him to the hall door, and stood +in the porch watching him until he had passed into the main road. + +'We have seen the last of him, I think,' said Charlie, when the captain +was out of sight; 'and I hope that I never meet another man like him.' + +On the following evening the Pages had a much more welcome visitor in +Lieutenant Williams, who availed himself of Charlie's earnest invitation +to come and see him and Ping Wang before they started for China. In +private life he was just as cheery, amusing, and good-tempered as on +board ship. He told many interesting stories of his work in +coper-catching and arrests for illegal fishing. He quite envied Fred, +Charlie, and Ping Wang their trip to China. + +'Perhaps you will be sent to South Africa,' Charlie remarked. 'That +would be much better than going with us.' + +'Certainly it would,' Williams declared. 'Active service is the best +thing that a man in the navy can desire, but I am afraid that there is +no chance of my getting to South Africa. At any rate, I shall go on +hoping for foreign service of some sort.' + +'If he has an opportunity,' Fred declared, after Lieutenant Williams had +departed, 'he will make the most of it, I am sure. He is just the kind +of man to do something big, and then laugh and pretend that it was a +very easy thing to do. I wish that he was coming with us. However, it's +no good wishing. I'm going to have a good long sleep for my last night +in the old home. Good night, all.' + +Charlie and Ping Wang followed Fred's example and went to bed as quickly +as possible. They awoke early, and later in the day reached Liverpool +and went aboard the _Twilight_, which was to be their home for five or +six weeks. + + * * * * * + +The _Twilight_ was a cargo boat which had accommodation for twenty +saloon passengers, but she rarely carried that number, as, her speed +being but ten knots an hour, most people proceeding to China travelled +by a faster and, consequently, more expensive steamer. + +Soon after she had left Liverpool, Fred, Charlie, and Ping Wang began to +wonder where the other passengers were. + +'They can't possibly be sea-sick already,' Charlie declared, and then +seeing the chief steward he inquired how many passengers they had +aboard. + +'Only you three gentlemen,' the steward answered. + +Fred and Charlie looked at each other in amazement. They had fully +expected that there would be all sorts of amusements to break the +monotony of their long voyage, and their disappointment was great. +However, when they found that in consequence of their being the only +passengers each might have a cabin to himself, their discontent quickly +passed away. And when they got well out to sea they had plenty of +amusements, for the captain had the shuffle-board, deck quoits, and +other games brought out, and with the second officer and chief engineer +played the passengers. + +When the three passengers wearied of deck games, they sat on the poop +reading some of the books which they had borrowed from the ship's +library. Fred sometimes brought out his medical books, but he obtained +more practical than theoretical knowledge that voyage, for the ship's +doctor--a young fellow who had been recently qualified and was taking a +sea voyage, and small pay in return for his medical services--was +completely prostrated by sea-sickness, and utterly useless as a doctor. +Fred attended to him, doctored such of the crew as needed it, and +successfully set a stoker's dislocated forefinger. + +(_Continued on page 285._) + + + + +MICE ON A SUBMARINE. + + +The sailors in our submarines have found out a simple device to protect +their lives whilst on their 'under-sea' trips. Every submarine that goes +to sea takes out a couple of mice. If one of these mice shows symptoms +of distress, it is a sure sign that the time for coming to the surface +has arrived, and that the air of the closed box needs replenishing from +the fresh air. + +X. + + + + +THE FATHER OF ALL. + + + Little flower, in meadow bright, + With thy raiment sweet and white, + Knowest thou who set thee there, + Gave to thee a dress so fair, + Caused thee from the ground to spring, + Such a sweet and tender thing, + Sent the rain and sent the sun, + Sent the stars when day is done? + + Little flower, dost thou not know + It was God Who made thee grow, + Gave to thee thy lovely dress, + Such as kings can ne'er possess; + Set thee in thy little bed, + Gave thee petals, white and red; + Sent for thee the dewdrop bright, + Shuts thy blossom up at night? + + Little bird, high in the air, + Flying here and everywhere, + Dost thou know who made thy wing, + Gave thee thy sweet song to sing; + Brought thee o'er the ocean track, + Guided thee in safety back, + Caused thee with the spring to come + To thy green and shady home? + + Little bird, God made thy wing, + Gave thee all thy songs to sing; + Set thee in the woods and trees, + Fanned thy nest with gentle breeze. + He it was who brought thee home, + Safe across the ocean's foam, + To the meadows green and bright, + Gave thee songs of sweet delight. + + + + +ADVICE THAT SAVED A KING'S LIFE. + + +A certain Khan of Tartary, making a journey with his nobles, was met by +a dervish, who cried with a loud voice: 'If any one will give me a piece +of gold I will give him a piece of advice.' The Khan ordered the sum to +be given him, upon which the dervish said, 'Begin nothing of which thou +hast not well considered the end.' + +The courtiers, upon hearing his plain sentence, smiled, and said with a +sneer, 'The dervish is well paid for his maxim.' But the king was so +well satisfied with the answer, that he ordered it to be written in +golden letters in several places of his palace, and engraved on all his +plate. + +Not long after, the king's surgeon was bribed to kill him with a +poisoned lancet. One day, when the king needed bleeding, and the fatal +lancet was ready, the surgeon read on the bowl which was close by: +'Begin nothing of which thou hast not well considered the end.' He +started, and let the lancet fall out of his hand. The king observed his +confusion, and inquired the reason. The surgeon fell prostrate, and +confessed the whole affair. The Khan, turning to his courtiers, told +them: 'That counsel could not be too much valued which had saved the +life of your king.' + +W. Y. + +[Illustration: "He started, and let the lancet fall."] + +[Illustration: "The women of Bohemia act as bricklayers' labourers."] + + + + +LIFE IN BOHEMIA. + + +Bohemia is a land of rugged mountains and towering pine-forests, with +other beauties of its own. Not many years ago it was, to most English +people, an unknown land; but in these days, when travelling is so easy +and rapid, year by year an ever-increasing number of our countrymen find +their way to this beautiful country in search of health and pleasure. +You have only to cross the strip of silver sea that rolls between our +little island and sunny France or misty Holland, and you may then rush +on, borne by the fastest of express trains, over the level plains that +greet you on landing, on through the beautiful Rhineland and the quaint +old towns of Bavaria, till at length you find yourself in this land of +enchantment. + +Here, surrounded by the mighty forests, and shut in by the mountains, +stands the town of Marienbad. Not very long ago it was a lonely village, +inhabited during the summer months by peasants tending their flocks and +herds on the pasture of the table-land. In winter it was almost +deserted, given over to the wild storms that swept the mountain slopes +and to the wolves and bears that roamed through the forests. + +Gradually the wonderful qualities of its mineral springs became known, +and now a crowd of fashionable folk pour into it during the summer, and +in every direction trees are being cut down to make way for villas, and +buildings of all kinds, which are springing up like mushrooms. + +The peasant-life of the people continues wonderfully simple, and it is +very amusing to watch this mixing of modern fashionable life with the +primitive ways of the villagers. + +English boys and girls would, perhaps, not care to go for a ride in the +Bohemian waggons, as they are so fond of doing in ours during +harvest-time. These waggons are made of a few long, wide planks, nailed +together so as to form a kind of huge trough, and strengthened on the +outside by cross-pieces of wood. This is placed upon the framework with +which the wheels are connected, and then roughly fastened to it. These +clumsy vehicles are drawn over the rough mountain roads by teams of +patient oxen. On _fete_ days the cattle look very gay, for then they are +decked out with ribbons of many colours. + +The women of Bohemia work very hard indeed; they help their husbands in +all kinds of work. Among other occupations they act as bricklayers' +labourers. They run up and down the tall ladders with heavy loads of +bricks or mortar, chattering gaily all the while as if life were one +long holiday. + +The houses are built in quite a different way from ours. First of all a +complete skeleton house is set up, made of wood, and, when this is +finished, the spaces between the wooden structure are filled in with +bricks and mortar. Before the roof is put on, a large green bush is +hoisted up as far as the eaves, and there tied to the scaffolding poles. +This is supposed to drive away the pixies or wicked fairies, and no one +would dare to put the roof on without the protection of the green bush. + +The women also do the work of journeymen bakers. The loaves are of the +long kind, sometimes jokingly called 'half-yards of bread.' These are +carried on the backs of the women. They look very droll with their huge +burdens, the loaves poking out in all directions above their shoulders, +making a kind of background to their stooping figures. + +Most of the people who visit Bohemia in order to take the mineral waters +are very stout. They drink them to make themselves thinner, and the +difference in their appearance when they arrive and when they leave is +very great. They have sometimes to take mud baths, and it is very +amusing to watch them going and returning from these. It does not seem +to be a very pleasant way of spending a fine summer morning, but they +appear to enjoy it all the same. + +The Bohemians are very fond of music, and they never fail to greet any +new-comers of importance with a serenade on the evening of their +arrival. + + + + +HOW TOM DRESSES. + +AT HOME. + + + A grimy face, + A muddy boot, + A broken lace, + And shabby suit; + With threadbare knee, + And dusty coat, + And dirty collar + Round his throat. + + +OUT VISITING. + + Now see! his face is + All aglow; + He's tied both laces + In a bow; + He's combed his hair, + He's brushed his suit-- + There's not a speck + On either boot; + His collar now + Is new and clean-- + A neater boy + I've never seen. + + Yet Tom should be, + Beyond a doubt, + As clean at home + As when he's out; + For those who dress + 'Mid friends to roam, + Should dress as well + For those at home. + +JOHN LEA. + + + + +READY! + + +'What is the use of fagging like that on a hot day?' asked Harold Lock +of his brother Frank, who came and flung himself panting on the grass +beside him. + +'I must keep in training: a fellow so soon gets slack and out of +practice if he is lazy,' was the answer. + +'Well, being lazy is good enough for me in the holidays,' the elder boy +said. 'I should think it pretty hard lines to have to run a mile in this +sun.' + +'It makes all the difference, though, if you are keen,' Frank told him. +'I want to be the fastest runner in the school, and I don't want to go +back and find I am easily beaten in the sports.' + +'I don't see the good of it myself,' said Harold, rather scornfully, but +Frank only laughed good-temperedly, and began to swing himself on a +branch of the tree for change of exercise. If there was one thing he +hated more than another, it was sitting still for too long a time. + +The same evening the boys were on the platform of the little village +station, watching some trucks being shunted from the main line on to a +siding. Suddenly there was a loud cry from one of the men engaged in the +work as a heavy truck got off the rails, turned over, and dragged +another with it. No one was seriously hurt, but the station-master, who +was soon on the scene of the accident, turned pale as he saw the +obstruction on the line. + +'Stop the down express!' he shouted. But the signal-box was a quarter of +a mile away, and precious minutes would have passed before he could be +near enough for his voice to reach the signal-man. By that time it might +be too late to stop the express. + +Then, like an arrow, a nimble little figure flew past him. It was Frank, +his running powers put to some practical use at last. The station-master +followed as quickly as he could. But when at last he came up breathless, +he found that Frank had already done his work, and the signal was +against the train. + +'It's touch-and-go whether we have caught her,' muttered the signal-man, +and they all held their breath as the rumble of the train was heard in +the distance. + +'She's slowing down--she's safe!' gasped the station-master, and he +hurried down again, followed by Frank and the signal-man. + +But it was only a few yards off the overturned trucks that the express +was finally brought to a standstill. The few seconds gained by Frank's +speed had saved her. Nothing could have prevented a terrible accident if +the signal had not caused the train to slow down just in time. + +The passengers crowded round Frank, and thanked him warmly when they +heard the story, and a few days later came a more practical expression +of their gratitude in the shape of a handsome gold watch. + +'So your running was some good after all,' Harold said, and he no longer +laughed at his small brother's hobby, but learned to admire the +nimbleness of body which, with his ready wit, made him of so much use in +an emergency. + +M. H. + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +IX.--THE EARS AND NOSES OF INSECTS. + + +Most of us have a vague idea that what we call the 'ear' is only partly +concerned with the work of hearing; but only a few know exactly what a +complicated organ the ear, as a whole, really is. The external 'ear' +only serves as an aid to the collection of sounds, and the real work of +hearing is performed by a delicate organ inside the head. Seals, moles, +whales, and porpoises, birds, reptiles, and fishes have no visible ear; +yet we know that they are not deaf, though in many the hearing must be +dull. In all these creatures the sense of hearing lies inside the head. + +But the ears of insects must be looked for in strange places indeed, +and, when found, they seem to bear no sort of likeness to what most of +us call ears. They may be on the antennae, on the trunk, or on the legs! +In the grasshopper, for example (fig. 1), the ear is placed on the +abdomen, just above the base of the great hind-leg, so that this leg +must be pulled down before the ear can be seen. When this has been done, +there will be found an oval drumhead-like spot (figs. 2 and 3); this is +the outer surface of the ear. If you had sufficient skill to take away +this part of the body, so as to show the inside of this drum, you would +find two horn-like stalks, to each of which is fastened a small and very +delicate flask, with a long neck. This is filled with a clear fluid, and +corresponds to a similar structure within our own ears. + +In the green grasshoppers--those delightful sprites of hot summer +days--'ears' of a precisely similar structure are found on the fore-leg +instead of on the body. + +In a little gnat-like insect known as Corethra, common in England during +the summer months, the 'ear' takes the form of delicate hairs growing +out from the body on a stem, like the teeth of a comb; the base of what +corresponds to the back of the comb is connected with a delicate nerve, +and this, as in the case of the similar nerve in the grasshopper and +locust, makes hearing possible. + +Only in some ants and bees, and in some mosquitoes, is the organ of +hearing placed on the head. We say _on_, rather than _in_, the head, +because it is formed by a modification of part of the antennae. A German +naturalist, named Mayer, performed an experiment to prove that the hairs +on these antennae can be made to vibrate by means of a tuning-fork. Only +those hairs which have to do with the production of sound answered to +the notes of the tuning-fork, and these vibrated at the rate of five +hundred and twelve vibrations per second. Other hairs vibrated to other +notes, which were those of the middle octave of the piano and the next +above it. Mayer also found that certain of these vibrations corresponded +with the notes produced by the 'song' of the female mosquito. +Consequently, when she begins to 'sing,' her tune, like the tuning-fork, +sets in motion those hairs on the antennae of the male which are tuned to +these vibrations. Having once found, by the movement of his antennae, +much as a horse moves his ears, from which direction the sound is +coming, the male is able to fly at once to his mate. From the accuracy +of this flight, Professor Mayer believes that the perception of sound in +these little creatures is more highly developed than in any other class +of animals. + +[Illustration: Fig. 1.--Grasshopper, slightly magnified.] + +In our illustration some of these curious 'ears' are shown. Fig. 2 shows +the ear of the grasshopper magnified. In fig. 3 this is further +magnified to show the V-shaped mark which represents the horny stalks to +which we referred, seen through the clear membrane of the drum. The dark +border (B) around the drum represents a raised ridge. In fig. 4 we have +the antennae of a gnat, some of the hairs of which serve as +sound-conductors to delicate nerves lying at their base. + +[Illustration: Fig. 2.--Ear of Grasshopper, drum at A, greatly +magnified.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 3.--Drum of Grasshopper's Ear, greatly magnified.] + + * * * * * + +The sense of smell in insects lies mainly in those wonderful organs, the +antennae or 'horns.' Scents of various kinds are perceived either through +pits, or through peg- or spike-like teeth filled with fluid. The +leaf-like plates of the antennae of the cockchafer (fig. 5) have these +pits very highly developed. On the outer surface of the first 'antennal' +leaf, as also on the edges of the other leaves, only scattered bristles +are seen; but on the inner surface of the first and seventh leaves, and +on both surfaces of all the other leaves, there are close rows of +shallow, irregularly shaped hollows. Their number is enormous--in the +males as many as thirty-nine thousand, and, in the female, thirty-five +thousand on each antenna. As some of the scent-laden air reaches the +surface of these pits, it causes the nerves of smell to be roused, and +so guides the beetle to its mate, or to its food, according to the +nature of the smell. These pits are so tiny that they cannot be shown on +the antennal leaves of the cockchafer shown in fig. 5, but they are +there. On fig. 6 a highly magnified section of one of these 'leaves' of +the antenna is shown: 'P' is the pit, 'N' is the nerve, and 'S. C.' the +sense-bulb of the nerve in which it terminates--the point at which the +smell is perceived. + +[Illustration: Fig. 4.--Antenna of Gnat, greatly magnified.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 5.--Antenna of Cockchafer, greatly magnified.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 6.--Section of "leaf" of Cockchafer's Antenna, +greatly magnified.] + +It has been proved that insects which have lost their antennae have no +sense of smell. + +W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S., A.L.S. + +[Illustration: "The donkey-man caught hold of Krueger's tail with both +hands."] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 279._) + + +Fourteen days after leaving Liverpool the _Twilight_ arrived at Port +Said, and Fred, Charlie, and Ping Wang at once went ashore. The Pages +thoroughly enjoyed their first glimpse of the East, for Ping Wang, +knowing the place, took care that they should see everything worth +seeing. After sitting for a time in a big _cafe_ which was crowded with +men of almost every European nation, they wandered through the shop +district, and out into the Arab portion of the town. + +After they had looked at the sights for some little time, Ping Wang +suggested that they should have a donkey ride. They had noticed the +large, handsome donkeys soon after they landed, but as the passengers +from a big P. & O. vessel had come ashore just before they arrived, all +the animals were engaged. But when they returned to the busy part of the +town they found three donkeys on hire, and the donkey 'boys,' two of +whom were elderly men, at once shouted out the names of their animals. + +A Port Said donkey sometimes has its name changed three or four times in +a year, in consequence of its proprietor's desire that it shall always +bear one which is just then popular with Englishmen. You may ride on +'W. G. Grace' in June, and on returning to Port Said in December will +discover that the same animal is now called 'Mr. Chamberlain,' or 'Lord +Charles Beresford.' The donkeys which Fred, Charlie, and Ping Wang found +on hire were named respectively 'Lord Roberts,' 'General Buller,' and +'Krueger.' + +Charlie sprang on to 'Lord Roberts's' back; Fred made a rush for +'General Buller,' and left Ping Wang to mount 'Krueger.' + +'Let us have a race,' Charlie suggested, when they were getting clear of +the crowded narrow streets, and immediately all three urged on their +donkeys; but, before they had gone many yards, 'Krueger' began to leave +his companions behind. + +'This will never do,' Charlie declared, and touched up 'Lord Roberts' +with his stick. Fred tried to hurry up 'General Buller.' Neither of the +animals, however, appeared to be at all anxious to exert themselves, and +they would have lost the race had not the donkey-man, remembering that +his English patrons always seemed pleased when 'Krueger' was last, caught +hold of 'Krueger's' tail with both hands, and, throwing back his head, +pulled as if he were engaged in a tug of war. 'Krueger,' not liking this +strain upon his tail, slackened speed and stopped. 'Lord Roberts' and +'General Buller,' evidently fearing that if they continued running they +would be treated in the same way as 'Krueger' had been, stopped with such +suddenness that Fred was shot over his animal's head into the road, and +Charlie only just escaped a similar fate by throwing his arms round his +Jenny's neck. + +'This is a nice thing!' Fred declared, ruefully, as he pointed to a big +tear in his trousers. 'To-day is the first time I have worn this suit.' + +Ping Wang condoled with him, but Charlie, who always maintained that his +brother thought too much of dress, laughed at his mishap. + +'If you had been wearing a serviceable suit like mine,' he said, 'your +trousers would not have been torn.' + +'May the day never come,' Fred answered, solemnly, 'when I have to take +your advice on the matter of dress. And now I think it is about time +that we returned to the _Twilight_.' + +'Shall we have another race?' Ping Wang asked eagerly, somewhat +disappointed at having been robbed of his victory. + +'I've had quite enough racing, thank you,' Fred declared, placing his +hand over his knee to conceal the rent in his trousers. + +'I haven't,' Charlie joined in. 'Come along, Ping Wang.' + +Charlie and Ping Wang whipped up their donkeys, but no sooner had they +started than Fred's animal, in spite of its rider's efforts to restrain +it, bolted after them, and, overtaking them, ran a dead heat with 'Lord +Roberts.' 'Krueger' was last. + +When, after a little further exploration of the town, they went back to +the _Twilight_, they were thoroughly delighted to find that she had +finished coaling, and that nearly all traces of that unpleasant job had +been removed. + +They went down to dinner at once, and when they came on deck again they +were in the Suez Canal. Fred and Charlie found plenty to interest them +in the Canal. They saw several thin brown pariah dogs wandering about +the desert in search of food, and once a dead camel came floating by +them. Towards evening the _Twilight_ had to anchor for a time, and the +three passengers, with the captain's permission, went ashore and +gathered flowers and shells to send home. + +In the Red Sea there was still more to see. All day long the +seagulls--brown with white breasts--hovered around the _Twilight_. Many +other birds came and rested on the ship for hours, and, as the weather +was intensely hot, Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang found it very +entertaining to sit quietly in their long chairs and watch their pretty +little feathered visitors. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +Three days after leaving Suez they saw, for the first time, the Southern +Cross, and, on the following morning, they steamed into what, at first +sight, Fred and Charlie thought was land, but was simply a wide streak +of floating sand which had been blown out to sea during a sand-storm. + +At night they were now permitted to sleep on deck--a boon which all +three appreciated highly. They took their blankets and pillows on to the +poop, and slept with greater comfort than they had experienced for many +days, though one night they were caught in a heavy thunder-shower. + +One morning, when they went on deck, they found it literally strewn with +flying fish. The ship's rats had evidently had a good feed, for many of +the fish were gnawed and bitten. + +'Would you like some flying fish for breakfast, gentlemen?' the cook +said to the three passengers as they stood looking at the stranded fish. + +'Are they good?' Charlie inquired, suspiciously. + +'First class,' the cook declared; so Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang had +flying fish for breakfast. + +'I can't say that I consider them "first class,"' Fred said when he had +eaten two of them, 'but I am glad that I shall be able to say that I +have eaten one.' + +'Eaten two,' Charlie said, but Fred ignored the interruption. + +'I make a practice of tasting any new dish I come across,' he continued. + +'When we get to China,' Charlie said, 'Ping Wang will have the pleasure +of offering you puppy-dog pie.' + +Ping Wang smiled serenely. + +'I don't think that you will find Chinese food so bad as you imagine,' +he said. 'Certainly it will be better than what we had to eat on the +_Sparrow-hawk_.' + +While they were looking at a heap of dead fish, the captain shouted to +them to come over to the starboard side; and on doing so they beheld a +shoal of small fish being chased by big ones. To escape their pursuers +the small fish jumped out of the water, and were instantly seized by the +gulls, a flock of which were hovering around. The gulls had a splendid +feast, several hundred of small fish being eaten by them before the +_Twilight_ steamed away from the shoal. + +It was not long before the _Twilight_ arrived at Aden, where they all +went ashore for a short time. + +After they left Aden the days were extremely monotonous, for there was +nothing to be seen but the ocean. + +'I shall be jolly glad when the voyage is at an end,' Charlie declared +when they had passed Ceylon without catching a glimpse of it. + +'So shall I,' Fred answered, 'but it won't be much longer, and then the +fun will begin.' + +'I hope,' Ping Wang said, 'that you will not mind being dressed as +Chinamen.' + +'But, my dear fellow,' Fred replied, 'if we were dressed as Chinamen, we +should not deceive any one. Our faces are not at all Chinese.' + +'I can alter that by shaving your eyebrows.' + +'Very likely, but Chinamen without pigtails would be as absurd as a +wingless bird.' + +'I will buy two pigtails,' Ping Wang declared, calmly. + +'What! Surely Chinamen don't wear false pigtails?' Charlie exclaimed. + +'Thousands of them do, but, of course they keep it as secret as do your +English ladies who wear false hair.' + +'But how do they fix it to their head? Stick it on to their bald pates +with gum?' + +'Oh, no! Chinamen are never quite bald--at least, I have never met any +who are--and the pigtail is fixed to what hair they have. My reason for +advising you not to have your hair cut in Port Said was that I wanted +you to have long hair by the time we reached Hongkong. I think that it +is already long enough for pigtails to be attached.' + +Charlie was delighted at the prospect of having to don Chinese attire, +but Fred was far from pleased. He had provided himself with an excellent +khaki campaigning suit, and did not at all like the idea of its lying +idle. However, after some further conversation, Ping Wang succeeded in +convincing him that, for the success of their plans for recovering the +idol, it was necessary that he and Charlie should pass themselves off as +Chinese. + +'We shall have to eat our food with chop-sticks I suppose?' Charlie +remarked. + +'Certainly,' Ping Wang replied. + +'Then lend me yours, and I'll start practising at once. I don't want to +be starved when I get to China.' + +Ping Wang lent his chop-sticks willingly, and having obtained some +boiled rice from the cook, Charlie practised getting it into his mouth. +It was an easier task than he had imagined, and when he had become +proficient, he passed the chop-sticks on to Fred, who at once set to +work to become as accomplished as his brother. Long before they arrived +at Hongkong, Fred and Charlie found it as easy to eat with chop-sticks +as with a knife and fork. + +(_Continued on page 291._) + + + + +ONE WAS MISSING. + + +Two men once stopped at a French inn, and gave in charge of the +landlady, who was a widow, a bag of money, telling her to give it up to +neither of them unless they were both together. A little while +afterwards one of the men came alone and asked the landlady to give up +the money under the pretence that his companion had to make an important +payment immediately. The widow had paid little attention to what had +been said to her before, and now, forgetting all about it, gave up the +bag. The rogue disappeared with it so quickly that the landlady asked +herself if she had not made a mistake. + +The next day the other man turned up, and made the same request as his +comrade had done the previous day, and when the widow told him what had +happened, he went into a passion, and summoned her for the loss of his +money. + +Some one who heard of the poor woman's plight advised her to say that +she was ready to bring forth the money on the original terms. She asked +the plaintiff to produce his comrade. The argument was found plausible +by the court, and as the thief took care not to come back, his comrade +had to give up his claim. + +W. YARWOOD. + + + + +PUSSY'S PLAYMATE. + + +Many instances of curious animal friendships have been recorded, but not +many are stranger than that which a correspondent of the _Field_ relates +of a kitten and a peacock in his own grounds. The kitten was a half-wild +one, living in the shrubberies near the house. All its brothers and +sisters had been destroyed or taken away, and the kitten must have felt +very lonely when there were none of its own kind to play with. Being +very young and playful, it felt that it must have a friend and playmate +of some kind, and it looked round to find one. There was a handsome +peacock in the grounds, and pussy admired him very much, and thought she +would like to play with him. So she tried to form an acquaintance, and, +as the peacock was not half so vain as he looked, she succeeded very +well. They were soon so friendly that pussy could rub against him and +box his ears with impunity; she even tried to scramble upon his back. He +took all her play in good part, and seemed to enjoy it quite as much as +she did. Perhaps he was flattered by pussy's admiration, or perhaps he +felt a true friendship for his strange companion. Whichever it was, he +always looked out for his little playmate, and was evidently pleased to +see her. + +W. A. A. + +[Illustration: "The peacock took all her play in good part."] + +[Illustration: "The cat washed the jackdaw in its turn."] + + + + +STRANGE CHILDREN. + + +We have all seen instances of the affection and care which most animals +give to their helpless or nearly helpless offspring. The cat spends +nearly all her day coiled up in some quiet, cosy corner with her family +of kittens, and when she leaves them for a few minutes, to stretch her +limbs and seek some refreshment for herself, the least squeak of one of +her children will bring her back to its side. The hen struts about the +farmyard surrounded by her chickens, and at the least appearance of +danger the brood runs for shelter under her wings. When the lamb in the +field strays from its mother's side she is soon alarmed, and shows her +fear by her anxious bleating, which does not cease until the lamb +returns to her. And thus it is with nearly every animal, tame or wild. +Each gives proofs, if we could only see and understand them, of a +wonderful and beautiful love for her young. + +This motherly care is not quite like the ordinary friendship which one +animal may have for another. A cat and a dog may be good friends all +their lives. But, though the cat loves her kittens before all things +while they are young and weak, later on, when they are sufficiently +grown in size and strength to take good care of themselves, her +affection gradually dies away, and she becomes indifferent to their +wants. Sometimes she will even drive them away from her. + +Another feature of this parental love is what might almost be called its +unthinking strength. The mother animal feels her affections so strong +that she cannot restrain them, and she often bestows them upon the +strangest animals, along with her own young ones, or when she has been +deprived of her own offspring. A hen will hatch ducks' eggs, and take +the same care of the ducklings which she would have taken of her own +chickens. I have heard of a hen taking charge of three young ferrets for +a fortnight. They were placed in her nest because their own mother had +died, and she took to them at once, and nestled down over them just as +if they had been chickens. They were too helpless to follow her about, +as chickens would have done, and she had to sit with them almost the +whole time. She combed out their hair with her bill, just as she would +have preened the feathers of chickens. The ferrets were fed by their +owner, and they were taken away from the nest before they were old +enough to do the hen any harm. + +An even stranger instance of this misplaced affection on the part of a +parent has been seen at a railway station recently, according to the +newspapers. A cat in the goods shed had three kittens, which she was +bringing up in the usual way. Soon after the kittens were born, some of +the railwaymen found a young jackdaw, and put it with them. The cat made +no objection, but received the bird kindly, and gave just as much care +to it as to the kittens. The workmen fed the bird, while the cat took +every other care of it, and even washed it, in its turn, with the +kittens. The rearing was quite successful, and the bird grew up strong +and healthy. + +W. A. ATKINSON. + + + + +A QUEER ADDRESS ON A POST-CARD. + + +On Coronation Day (August 9th, 1902), a number of balloons filled with +natural gas were sent off from Heathfield, near Tunbridge Wells. One of +these balloons was picked up on August 10th at Ulm, in Germany, having +travelled the six hundred miles in less than twenty-four hours. + +Notice of this fact was sent in German by the finder on a post-card, but +he evidently did not understand English, for he copied the wording on +the little medal fastened to the balloon: '_Natural gas carried me from +Heathfield, Sussex._' + +With these words for address, the post-card, after some delay, reached +Heathfield, and was delivered to the manager of the Natural Gas Works. + +S. CLARENDON. + + + + +PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS. + +14.--DECAPITATIONS. + +1. Behead weak, and leave a bar. +2. Behead kept too long, and leave an interesting narrative. +3. Behead a firm hard animal substance, and leave a single number. +4. Behead to agitate, and leave a sea-fish. +5. Behead sudden terror, and leave what we should all do. +6. Behead to melt, and leave a berry. + +C. J. B. + +[_Answers on page 339._] + + + + +ANSWERS TO PUZZLES ON PAGE 263. + +12.--1. Rigid. + 2. China. + 3. Shovel. + 4. Shrewd. + 5. Stage. + 6. Thanet. + +13.-- + + K + NET + STARE + SCATTER +BLESSINGS + + + + +THE KING OF THE 'PEELERS.' + + +About the year 1845, a 'Ragged School,' as it was called, was started in +a very poor quarter of London, but so turbulent and noisy were the boys +that at last the teachers found themselves obliged to engage the +services of a policeman to keep order. + +This policeman was himself a 'bit of a scholar,' and had also a love of +boys, and he suggested that if he took a class in the school it might be +the best way of maintaining order amongst the unruly crew. + +The experiment was tried, and proved a great success. The worst and +noisiest boys were drafted into the policeman's class, and he somehow +tamed them all. More than that, his class was so popular that all the +boys wanted to belong to it, and they gave their constable the title of +'King of the Peelers.' + +'Peelers,' a name which has been nearly ousted by our slang word +'Bobby.' was derived from Sir Robert Peel, who instituted the police. +'Bobby,' of course, comes from Peel's Christian name. + +X. + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 287._) + + +It was early one morning when the _Twilight_ arrived at Hongkong, and +the Pages and Ping Wang at once went ashore in a _sampan_, or native +boat, to present a letter of introduction which they had brought from +England. + +Although it was only half-past six when they arrived at the Hongkong +merchant's office, they found the manager, to whom their letter was +addressed, already hard at work. He had received, some days before, from +the head of the firm in London, notification of the Pages being on their +way to Hongkong, and greeted them very cordially. + +'I had hoped,' he said, after a few minutes' conversation, 'that you +would have been here a day or two ago, for there is a very decent boat +starting for Tien-tsin this afternoon, on which you would have been very +comfortable. The next one will not be leaving until to-day three weeks.' + +'Then let us start this afternoon,' Charlie exclaimed. + +'I am quite willing,' Ping Wang said, 'if we can get you and Fred +disguised in time.--As we are going to my native village, which is a +very anti-foreign place,' he continued, addressing the manager, 'I think +that it will be wise to have my friends disguised as Chinamen.' + +'If they can act up to their disguise the suggestion is an excellent +one,' the manager declared, 'for there are rumours that the Boxers or +Big Sword Society are threatening to drive out all the foreigners in the +land. If you wish to go on by this afternoon's boat there should be no +difficulty about getting your friends disguised in time. I will send for +my barber and tailor at once.' + +The manager sent for the barber and tailor, and also dispatched a +message to the skipper of the boat which was sailing that afternoon, the +_Canton_. The Pages and Ping Wang had breakfast when these orders had +been given, and long before they had finished their meal the barber +arrived, the tailor following him very quickly. After breakfast the +manager took his guests up to his bedroom, and called to the barber and +the tailor to follow them. The latter had brought with him an excellent +assortment of Chinese garments, and from them Ping Wang speedily +selected suitable clothes for his English friends. He also chose, with +the aid of the barber, a couple of splendid pigtails. Charlie having +paid for the goods, the tailor departed, leaving the barber to begin +shaving the Englishmen's heads and eyebrows. + +Fred was the first to be operated on, and Charlie laughed heartily when +he saw the alteration which the loss of eyebrows made in the appearance +of his brother. The barber was a quick worker, and turning his attention +to Fred's head, speedily removed with scissors and razor a large portion +of his hair. He found, however, that although Fred's hair had been +allowed to grow during the voyage, it was not sufficiently long for a +pigtail to be tied securely to it. Therefore he sewed the pigtail to the +inside of a skull-cap, and placed the cap on Fred's head. + +'It is very well done,' Ping Wang admitted, when Fred was fully dressed +in Chinese garments. 'If I had glanced at you casually out of doors, I +should not have suspected that you were not a Chinaman.' + +'But I don't like the idea of wearing this little cap,' Fred protested; +'I shall get sunstroke.' + +'When you go into the sun you can wear a beehive,' Ping Wang replied, +pointing to several big Chinese hats which the tailor had left for +inspection. + +Charlie's disguise was completed with even more speed than Fred's had +been. + +'It's splendid,' Charlie declared, as he surveyed himself in the glass; +'don't you think so, Fred?' + +A few minutes later the barber was dismissed, and the four of them +returned to the sitting-room, where the skipper of the _Canton_ was +awaiting them. He shook hands with the manager and greeted the other +three men in Chinese. Charlie was nearest to them, and feeling that +politeness demanded that he should say something, blurted out, '_Je ne +parle pas Chinese._' + +The skipper looked puzzled, and the manager, who was already in a +laughing humour, roared, but Ping Wang was very serious. + +'I say, Charlie,' he exclaimed, 'do remember that you are not to answer +any one who addresses you in Chinese, or we shall be discovered.' + +The skipper looked at Charlie in surprise. It was the first time that he +had heard a Chinaman called Charlie. + +'Two of these gentlemen are Englishmen,' the manager explained. 'What do +you think of their disguise?' + +'It is excellent. If I had not heard you speak,' he added, addressing +Ping Wang, 'I should never have believed that you were an Englishman.' + +'I'm not one,' Ping Wang declared merrily; 'I'm a Chinaman.' + +'Well, who am I to believe?' the skipper exclaimed in bewilderment. + +'They are the Englishmen,' the manager answered, pointing to Fred and +Charlie; 'the other gentleman is a Chinaman. But to come to the point, I +want you to take my three friends to Tien-tsin. They wish to be +undisturbed, and do not want it to be known that they are not Chinamen. +Therefore let every one--even the mate--fancy that they are Celestials.' + +'I understand. I will have the saloon berths got ready at once. What +time will they come aboard? I shall sail about four.' + +'Will half-past three be early enough?' + +'Half-past three, sharp, will do.' + +The skipper departed a few minutes later, leaving the three travellers +alone with the manager. + +'Let us sit in the verandah,' the manager suggested, and for fully two +hours they sat in long chairs chatting together, and watching the busy +scene in the street below. + +'Would it not be a good idea if we went for a short stroll?' Fred asked, +after a time. 'It would accustom us to appearing in public in our +Chinese garb.' + +'That is a good suggestion,' Charlie declared. 'Don't you think so, Ping +Wang?' + +'You would be safer here,' said Ping Wang, 'but if you wish to go out, I +will come with pleasure. We must not go far. We needn't wear our +beehives. We will keep in the shade.' + +[Illustration: "Fred was the first to be operated on."] + +'We mustn't walk three abreast, I suppose?' Fred remarked, as they +quitted the premises. + +'No,' Ping Wang answered. 'It will be better to walk single file. I'll +walk in the rear, so that I can keep watch on you, and hurry forward if +any of my countrymen speak to you. Don't walk fast.' + +Charlie stepped into the street, Fred followed, and Ping Wang brought up +the rear. At first Charlie and Fred felt decidedly uncomfortable, and +fancied that every one who glanced at them had discovered that they were +not Chinamen. + +(_Continued on page 300._) + +[Illustration: The Giant's Hall, Luray.] + + + + +WONDERFUL CAVERNS. + +VIII.--THE CAVERNS OF LURAY. + + +The United States of America, forming such a huge country, seem to have +been provided by Nature with fittings on a similar scale. Niagara, the +Rocky Mountains, the big trees of the Yosemite Valley, the wonders of +Yellowstone Park and the Mammoth Cave are instances of this, and the +caverns of Luray, some eighty miles from Washington, are both in size +and beauty not unworthy of their mighty mother-land. They were only +brought to light in 1878, although the existence of several small +hollows in the neighbourhood had suggested that larger caverns might be +found, and it was when actually looking for another entrance into one of +the known grottoes that a Mr. Andrew Campbell accidentally came upon +this wonder of the world. With an eye to business, the find was without +delay turned to profit, and a Company formed which has lighted the +caverns with electricity and put staircases and paths for the +convenience of visitors, who flock there in great numbers. Some idea of +the vast size of the caves may be gained from the fact that the electric +wire is three and a half miles long, and that this only illuminates the +chief halls and galleries. Each visitor carries a tin reflector to +penetrate dark corners and smaller passages. + +One curious cavern is called the Fish Market, from rows of fish-shaped +stalactites hanging from the roof, looking exactly like bass or catfish +hung on a string. Another is known as the Toyshop, from quantities of +stalactites twisted into all possible shapes, many of which suggest some +well-known plaything. In one place is a huge cascade of alabaster +resembling a frozen waterfall, and frequently the walls appear to be +hung with curtains and draperies of gleaming white, or tinted with all +shades of beautiful colours. In one cavern six curious blade-shaped +stalactites are called the Major Chimes. When struck by the hand they +give out sweet musical tones, the vibrations of which last from a minute +to a minute and a half, and resound to far-distant parts of the caverns. +One enormous stalagmite bears the name of the Hollow Column, and +measures one hundred feet round by forty feet high. This column shows +plainly the overwhelming force of a current of water, as it is pierced +from top to bottom, and visitors climb right up inside to explore the +great galleries above the Giant's Hall. Learned people say that some +time in the days of long ago, when the cave was filled with angry water +trying to find a way of escape, the flood forced a passage right through +the heart of this huge stalagmite, and on subsiding left a hollow column +where it had found a solid one. The 'Tower of Babel' is another +wonderful sight, with twenty-two rows of dwarf columns, and from it we +pass into the Giant's Hall, where the colossal stalagmites look like +monster chess kings and queens standing on pedestals. One of these is +particularly beautiful, being white below and changing above to a +delicate rose-pink, the colour of the inside of a shell. + +One enormous stalactite was taken from the roof, and presented to the +Smithsonian Institution at Washington. It weighed a thousand pounds, and +was removed with great care. First it was wrapped all over in cotton +cloth, every little point being separately packed. Then bits of wood +were fitted exactly between the points, and, to prevent any jarring, a +wooden case was built round it while it was still hanging from the roof +of the cave. Then, resting on a scaffolding, it was sawn from the rock, +cautiously lowered, and sent off to its new home. + +From marks of claws on the stalagmites, as well as of teeth, it is clear +that some of the caverns have been used by huge animals in former times, +and many impressions of smaller animals are also found, such as wolves, +panthers, rats, and rabbits. These marks are perfectly clear, and they +must be of great age, as the stalagmites on which they are found have +grown into huge pillars carrying the records of their visitors up with +them far out of reach. + +In one cavern, known as the Round Room, arrow and spear heads have been +found, proving that human beings formerly made use of the caves. + +One peculiar feature of these caves are what appear to be limpid pools, +though really they are quite dry now. An unfortunate traveller slipped +into one of these many years ago, when the pool was not fully hardened, +and the impression of his form is still quite clearly seen, whilst the +pool, in honour of him, is known as Chapman's Lake. + + + + +THE SONG OF THE BROOM. + + + Dust! dust! dust! dust! + Carpet, curtain, window, floor; + Right, left, thrust, thrust-- + Clouds are rising more and more! + Sweep, sweep, sweep, sweep-- + Kitchen, parlour, passage, stair; + Sweep, sweep, sweep, sweep-- + That's what _I'm_ obliged to bear! + Dust, dust, dust, dust, + In the lofty attic found; + Dust, dust, dust, dust, + In the cellar underground. + + Cobwebs, spiders, beetles, flies, + Nooks and corners dark and drear, + That is where my pathway lies, + Month by month and year by year; + Buckets, boxes, brushes, boots, + Near to me for ever dwell; + No one lets me share the fruits + Of the work I do so well; + Boys and girls will often play + In some clean and pleasant room, + Making litter all the day, + For the poor unhappy broom. + + No one shows me gratitude; + No one cares a jot for me, + For when work is done I'm stood + In some gloomy scullery. + But no matter! time will come-- + When my hair is worn away, + I shall rest, while some new broom + Does what I must do to-day. + + + + +ONE MORE CHANCE. + + +'I want you to look after the new boy, Angus,' said Mrs. Macdonald, the +wife of the head master, to her son. + +'Oh, Mother, I know that means he is either a molly-coddle or a black +sheep. I remember the time I had when you set me on to look after young +Smith.' + +'My boy, I want your help. I am sure you will not refuse it.' + +'Well, fire away, Mother. Let me know the worst,' and Angus put on a +resigned look. + +'It is Andrews, the boy who has been sent home from India,' Mrs. +Macdonald explained. 'He has been brought up so badly. His mother died +when he was a baby, and he has been quite neglected, and left to native +servants. His father writes that he hopes English school-life will break +him of the bad habits he has formed, but I am afraid it will be no easy +matter. Of course, I am telling you this in confidence, Angus, but I +cannot help thinking of the fight the poor boy has before him, and I +want you to understand it and to befriend him.' + +'Well, this is a nice treat for me,' Angus said. 'But you know, Mother, +you always get your own way, and so I suppose I must do the best I can +for him.' + +'Thank you, my boy; I knew I could count on you. I want Andrews to have +a real chance.' + +'How about _me_, though?' asked Angus, with a smile. 'Perhaps I shall +learn his bad habits, instead of breaking him of them!' + +'I am not afraid,' said his mother, proudly, as she left him. + +A month later Angus Macdonald told himself he had not done much towards +fulfilling his promise, although he had faithfully tried. + +Andrews was a most difficult boy to deal with. He was untruthful, and +seemed to have no idea of honour, and he had a hot, passionate temper. +On the other hand, he could evidently be led by his affections to some +extent. He liked Macdonald, who had taken his part once or twice when +the other boys were bullying him, and he would have done anything to +show his gratitude. + +'But I cannot stick up for you if you are not straight, Andrews,' +Macdonald had told him plainly. 'And you will never get on here unless +you act on the square and tell the truth always.' + +'Indeed, I will try,' Andrews would say, and within an hour or so he +would very likely be detected in some mean, deceitful act, which would +make Macdonald inclined to throw up his charge and let him go his own +way. Then he would remember he was the boy's only friend, and would make +up his mind to give him another chance. + +Howard, one of the bigger boys, lost no opportunity of bullying Andrews. +He was no friend of Macdonald's, and so he took a delight in making the +younger boy show off his worst points. + +'Hullo, nigger, keep your hair on!' he said tauntingly one day when +Andrews was beginning to get angry about some trick that had been played +on him. The words made Andrews furious. + +'I am as English as you are; how dare you call me that name?' he cried, +and flew at his tormentor, who of course made short work of him. In a +moment Andrews was lying on the floor, with Howard ready to upset him if +he got up again. But after a time Howard let him go, and he walked away, +vowing vengeance in his heart. + +The same evening he was in the play-room alone, and he remembered that +Howard had received a hamper the day before, the contents of which were +packed away in his cupboard. + +The temptation was too great. First, there was his love of sweet things; +then his long-accustomed habit of never denying himself anything he +wanted, if he could get it by fair means or foul. And his lessons in +honour had been learnt such a little time that the disgrace and wrong of +stealing scarcely troubled him. Finally, he would be doing his enemy an +injury, and the thought of revenge was sweet to him. + +He had cut some rich plum-cake, and was eagerly devouring it, when +Howard came suddenly into the room and caught him in the act. + +'You young rascal!' he cried, catching hold of the younger boy and +tweaking his ear so unmercifully that he cried out with pain. 'I shall +just make you pay for this.' + +At the same moment Macdonald appeared in the doorway. + +'What's the row?' he asked. + +'Why, your precious friend is the row,' Howard said. 'I hope you are +proud of him--the little thief! I will leave you to enjoy one another's +company,' and he turned away, not sorry to have such a story to tell the +other boys. + +'Now you see what you have done!' Macdonald said to the culprit, who was +hanging his head, remorse having overtaken him. 'How can you hope to +keep your friends if you bring disgrace on them?' + +'I didn't think,' murmured the unhappy boy. 'Oh, yes, I see now! Of +course, you can never speak again to a boy who is a thief. It doesn't +matter. I don't care what becomes of me now,' and he turned miserably +away. + +There was such a forlorn look about him that Macdonald was touched in +spite of his anger. There flashed into his mind his mother's words, and +also those others from an even Higher Authority--'until seventy times +seven.' + +'Hold hard, Andrews,' he said. 'I will give you one more chance.' + +Then the boy broke down and promised he would never forget his friend's +kindness, but would fight hard to win the victory over his faults. + +And although he did not succeed without some more falls, he did, to the +best of his ability, keep his word, and in the end took an honourable +place in the school. + +[Illustration: "'You young rascal!'"] + +[Illustration: Andree's Departure for the North Pole.] + + + + +CRUISERS IN THE CLOUDS. + +IX.--HERR ANDREE AND HIS BALLOON. + + +On the 7th June, 1896, the steam-ship _Virgo_ sailed from the port of +Gothenburg in Sweden with a very distinguished company on board. Rising +young engineers, students of the Stockholm Polytechnic, and gentlemen of +scientific fame, had engaged themselves as common sailors, so deep was +their interest in the object for which the _Virgo_ sailed. The principal +person on board was Herr Solomon Auguste Andree, who, with two +companions, Dr. Erkholm and Dr. Strindberg, was bent on making an +adventurous attempt to reach the North Pole by means of a balloon. The +_Virgo_ was therefore steering for the lonely shores of Spitzbergen, six +hundred miles south of the Pole. Here the balloon would be inflated to +carry Herr Andree and his companions (it was hoped) over the rest of +that pathless, snowbound journey. The balloon itself, at present, lay +carefully packed in its berth, together with the car and the apparatus +for making the necessary gas. It had been manufactured in France a month +before, and while on exhibition for four days at the Champ de Mars, had +been seen by thirty thousand visitors. + +But the very finest balloon in the world could not sail against the +wind, and, though on the 27th July it was inflated and quite ready for +flight, the north wind blew steadily down from the Pole as though to +say, 'You are not wanted here! You are not wanted here!' + +Herr Andree and his friends waited patiently for three weeks, and then, +as it still blew from the north, he ordered the gas to be let out and +the silk bag packed for a return to the south. The captain of the +_Virgo_ said that he feared, if they stayed longer, his ship would be +frozen in. The shed which they had erected on Dane's Island was left +standing for use another time, together with the machinery for making +the gas. + +Nine months later, on May 30th, 1897, the _Svensksund_ (a ship lent to +the expedition by the King of Sweden) landed Andree once more at Dane's +Island, and once more he filled his air-ship with gas. This time it had +been considerably increased in size, and measured sixty-six feet in +diameter, with room for one hundred and seventy-six thousand cubic feet +of gas. The globe was made of bands of silk eighteen inches wide, +varying in thickness according to the strains it would have to bear. It +was provided with two additional valves and an arrangement called a +'rending flap.' This flap was intended to avoid bumping, when, at the +end of the voyage, the aeronauts would descend for the last time. A +rope, carrying a small grapnel at one end, was at the other end attached +to the 'flap.' The moment the grapnel was thrown out and caught in the +ground, the tightened rope would tear a large opening in the balloon +and let out all the gas instantaneously. If care in construction had +been all that was necessary to make Herr Andree's journey a success, +then our story would surely have had a happier ending. + +Again, as in 1896, the contrary wind delayed the start, but on July 11th +it veered round to the south, and though it was by no means a settled +wind, Herr Andree decided to weigh anchor. All was ready. A hasty note +to the King of Sweden was written by the leader. Farewells were spoken, +and the captain leapt into his car. + +'Strindberg! Frankel!'[5] he cried, 'we must be off!' + +The next moment his two fellow-travellers stood at his side. Each held a +knife with which to cut loose three bags of ballast that kept the +balloon from rising. It was an impressive moment, and those who stood on +that lonely shore to wish Godspeed to the tiny expedition are not likely +to forget the smallest detail of the scene. The ballast fell, and the +'Ornen' (as the balloon was named) rose a little way, being still held +by three strong ropes. Near each of these a sailor stood with a knife +ready to cut the rope the moment Herr Andree gave the word. A little +more delay, till the great globe swayed to a favourable puff of wind, +and then Herr Andree called, 'One, two! Cut the ropes!'--and the balloon +rose into the air, while the quiet shores of the lonely little island +echoed the hearty cheers of the company left behind. + +From the car of the balloon hung a long 'trailing' rope, which it was +Andree's intention to keep always in contact with the earth or water, +and by so doing control the direction of the balloon. Between the car +and the balloon itself was an arrangement of three sails, which could be +trimmed to the wind against the resistance of the trailing rope. The +great difficulty in steering balloons has always been that since they +travel at exactly the same speed as the wind, there is nothing for sails +to react against; but by checking the speed of the balloon (just as the +speed of a ship is checked by the water) this difficulty may be got over +to _some_ extent. + +So Herr Andree dropped his trailing rope, and, as he left Dane's Island, +those who had gone to see him off watched the little bubbling wake that +was left behind by the rope. Narrower and narrower it grew in the +distance till it was no more than a silver line, and the vast balloon +above it moved like a grey shadow on the Arctic sky. The three explorers +in the car were soon beyond the reach of sight, but the crew of the +_Svensksund_ never took their eyes from the air-ship till, sailing in a +north-easterly direction at a height of about one hundred and fifty +feet, it disappeared behind a range of low hills. + +Eleven days later a message was received by carrier pigeon (the fourth +dispatched by Herr Andree). It stated that on July 13th, two days after +the departure, all was going well. On August 31st a floating buoy was +found in the Arctic seas, and contained another message, but as it was +dated July 11th it was of less interest than the first. + +Since then the explorer and his companions have passed from our +knowledge as completely as the silver wake of his trailing rope has +faded from the Arctic sea. The efforts made to follow its mysterious +path have failed for eight years, and the traveller's fate is another +secret locked in these frozen regions. + +JOHN LEA. + +FOOTNOTE: + +[5] Herr Frankel had taken the place of Dr. Erkholm, who had retired +from the enterprise. + + + + +A STRONG MOTIVE. + + +Robert Louis Stevenson tells of a Welsh blacksmith who, at the age of +twenty-five, could neither read nor write. He then heard a chapter of +_Robinson Crusoe_ read aloud. It was the scene of the wreck, and he was +so impressed by the thought of what he missed by his ignorance, that he +set to work that very day, and was not satisfied until he had learned to +read in Welsh. His disappointment was great when he found all his pains +had been thrown away, for he could only obtain an English copy of the +book. Nothing daunted, he began once more, and learned English, and at +last had the joy and triumph of being able to read the delightful story +for himself. + +A strong motive and a steady purpose overcome the greatest difficulties. + +M. H. + + + + +DIAMONDS. + + +A man named John O'Reilly died not long ago in a store near Taungs, in +the Kimberley district of South Africa. Few people, perhaps, remember or +know that this man began the great diamond trade of Africa. + +The story is quite a romance. In 1867 the baby son of a Mrs. Jacobs +found 'a pretty pebble' near the Orange River, and brought it to his +mother. She showed it to a Boer, who offered to buy it. 'You may have it +as a gift,' laughed the woman; 'there is no value in it.' + +The Boer thought otherwise, and showed it to O'Reilly, who was then a +travelling trader. He took it to Colesberg, and there cut his initials +with it on the window of an inn, proving the stone to be a diamond. + +It was then shown to the Clerk of the Peace, and finally it reached the +Colonial Secretary, and was sent to the Paris Exhibition, where it was +sold for five hundred pounds, and established the fact that diamonds +could be found in the Colony. + +But it was some years yet before people in Cape Colony at all realised +the wealth of diamonds which lay scattered at their very feet. A Boer, +living at Dutoitspan, found a diamond sticking in the mud walls of which +his house was built, and in July, 1871, a man scratched the soil near +Colesberg Kopje with his knife, and unearthed a diamond. A town was +built round it, which has grown into the modern Kimberley. + +So, from John O'Reilly's first diamond of five hundred pounds has grown +a great trade, which last year produced diamonds valued at over four +million pounds sterling. + +There is little doubt that though Cape diamonds were 'discovered' first +in 1867, they were known in Africa long ago. Stone and bronze +instruments found beside skeletons in the Orange Free State show that +pre-historic miners had been at work, and on an old map of 1750 the +words, 'Here be diamonds' are written across what is now Griqualand +West. + + + + +SAD COMPANY IN THE NURSERY. + + + I found in a nursery corner, + A pocket-knife, pen, and a ball, + And this was the story they told me, + If I can remember it all. + + 'My beautiful handle was broken,' + The pocket-knife mournfully cried, + 'When Alfred forced open the clock-face + To see if old Time was inside.' + + 'And look,' said the ball with a shudder, + 'I'm scratched in a horrible way, + Because through the drawing-room window + He carelessly flung me to-day.' + + 'And worse,' cried the pen in a passion, + 'Worse, worse than their troubles a lot! + I've been in disgrace, since he used me, + For making a terrible blot.' + + And then they all cried in a chorus: + 'In sorrow we're ending our days, + Because Master Alfred is careless, + And walks in such mischievous ways.' + + + + +THE JUMPING MOUSE. + + +New Jersey, in the United States of America, still has the name given it +when British explorers paid their first visit, but it does not look new +at present, and we can hardly believe that a few hundred years ago +savages roamed in its forests and woods. Many of its old trees have been +cut down, yet some remain to make a pleasant shade, and some curious +wild animals are found in its woodlands, which are very plentiful; there +is the dull-coloured wood-mouse, which often escapes notice amongst the +herbage; the lively, more conspicuous white-footed species; and +especially the jumping mouse, the briskest and most amusing of all. + +The jumping mouse is a lover of woods or copses, but it comes also to +the open ground, where, probably, it is in more peril from bird-foes; +and it will visit garden shrubberies, and build a nest for itself in the +corner of some zigzag fence. Some people who have watched this mouse +have told us how active it is by night, but it may often be seen on a +summer's day running home to the nest, with the pouches in its cheeks +full of food, to be hoarded up or given to the young ones. It can run +with great speed, as well as leap. Now and then a mother mouse may be +noticed basking in the sun, her little ones round her, generally keeping +near the nest. + +Usually, it is only when in danger or frightened that the little +creature travels along in its peculiar jumping way. It appears that +wherever a jumping mouse is, be it field or woodland, it takes to the +thick grass or underbrush, probably because amongst these it finds the +food required. But in these places it is in peril from enemies coming +suddenly to seize it, and the mouse has a great advantage by being able +to leap, and not run through tangled grass. + +[Illustration: The Jumping Mouse.] + +People have disagreed as to the distance these mice can jump; five or +six feet has been stated, but that is beyond the fact. A gentleman who +had a tame specimen found that on his parlour carpet it would jump about +two feet, though very likely, if in danger, it would have covered a +greater distance. + +When the sharp frosts of autumn have begun, the jumping mouse looks out +for a winter retreat. It is able to dig, and so it burrows down into the +earth, when it is not too hard, and scoops itself a nest. Away from +observation and sheltered from the cold, it curls round, head, tail, and +feet together, eating occasionally from its store, till the spring days +rouse it to fresh energy. + +J. R. S. C. + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 293._) + +CHAPTER XII. + + +Before the three adventurers had gone many yards, a Chinese beggar +sidled up to Charlie and begged his honourable brother to bestow a gift +upon the degraded dog who addressed him. + +At first Charlie did not know whether the man was asking what the time +was, or whether he desired to be directed to some place. So he gave a +glance round, and discovering that the man was begging he shook his head +gravely. The beggar departed, and Charlie inwardly congratulated himself +on having done very well. His self-satisfaction was, however, +short-lived. He looked round to assure himself that Fred and Ping Wang +were following him, and just as he did so a European lady stepped out of +a shop, and her parasol, which she was in the act of opening, prodded +him in the back. He turned sharply, and the lady, believing him to be a +Chinaman, apologised in Chinese. Seeing that she was apologising Charlie +quite forgot his disguise, and seizing his skull-cap, raised it. Of +course the pigtail came off with it, to the amazement of the lady, who +stepped quickly into her trap and drove off. + +[Illustration: "The pigtail came off with the skull-cap."] + +Fred had the greatest difficulty in preventing himself from laughing +aloud, but Ping Wang hurried forward, and taking Charlie by the arm, +said in an undertone, 'Come into this shop: you have put your cap on +crooked.' + +The Chinese shop assistant laughed heartily as he saw Ping Wang arrange +Charlie's skull-cap. He saw that Charlie was a European, but, as Ping +Wang said later, it was better that he should discover it than some of +the street loafers, who would probably have set to work to find out the +reason for an Englishman being disguised as a Chinaman. + +'We had better go back at once,' Ping Wang said, as they quitted the +shop, and they walked to their temporary home without further adventure. + +The manager was highly amused on hearing of Charlie's mishap, but when +his merriment had subsided he gave the brothers a few words of advice. + +'You will have to be very careful indeed when you get away from the +treaty ports,' he said earnestly, 'for if people discovered you in +Chinese attire, they would think that you were disguised for some evil +purpose. Of course, there are some missionaries who wear Chinese dress, +but the people know them, and understand their reasons. But you, not +being missionaries, would naturally be regarded with great suspicion, +and would probably be punished severely--perhaps executed.' + +'I will remember what you have said,' Fred answered, 'and I am very much +obliged to you.' + +'And so am I,' Charlie declared. 'My brother and I will be very careful +after to-day.' + +The conversation was now changed to home affairs, for the manager, being +a thorough-bred Englishman, was anxious to hear the latest news of +London. + +Soon after lunch they went aboard the _Canton_, which they found to be a +small and poky vessel. The saloon placed at their disposal was very +similar to the after-saloons which Charlie and Ping had seen in the +North Sea steam trawlers; that is to say, the bunks were round the +table. + +The trip to Tien-tsin occupied several days, and all on board, except +the skipper and his mate, being Chinamen, Charlie and Fred were +compelled to speak very little, and then only in an undertone, for fear +that they should be overheard. However, they managed to enjoy +themselves, as Ping Wang taught them several exciting Chinese games. + +'In which direction do you intend to travel when we reach Tien-tsin?' +the skipper of the _Canton_ asked Ping Wang, shortly after they had +passed Taku. + +'Up the Pei-ho,' Ping Wang answered. 'By-the-bye, I suppose you know +several boatmen who work up the river?' + +'I have a slight acquaintance with a score or so of them, and if you +wish to get a passage on one of their boats I dare say that I can manage +to choose a fairly honest man.' + +'That is just what I do want. Of course it can never do to let him know +that my friends are Englishmen. He might refuse to take them.' + +'He would take them readily enough; but he would demand an absurdly +high price for it; and, possibly, when you reached your destination, he +would make known that they were foreigners.' + +'That is highly probable,' Ping Wang admitted. 'I am afraid that some +one on board is certain to discover that our friends are not Chinamen.' + +'Pretend that they are both ill, and that they must on no account be +disturbed. Then they will be able to escape being spoken to.' + +'That is a very good idea,' Ping Wang declared; but when they arrived at +Tien-tsin, and he and the skipper started bargaining with a small +cargo-boat owner for passages, it was found that the idea was not so +good as he expected. + +'I will not take them,' the boatman declared, when he heard that two of +his proposed passengers were invalids. 'They will die on my boat, and +then their spirits will haunt me.' + +Neither Ping Wang nor the skipper of the _Canton_ had thought of this +objection--a very natural one from a Chinese point of view. + +'But these men will not die,' the skipper declared, hurriedly. 'It is +only bad eyes that they are suffering from. They have come from Hongkong +with Ping Wang, and, if they are not worried, they will soon be well +again.' + +For a moment the Chinese boatman was silent. + +'I will take them,' he said, at length, 'if my honourable brother, Ping +Wang, will promise that if they become very ill he will throw them +overboard, so that they shall not die in my boat.' + +'I promise,' Ping Wang said, and he had no qualms about making that vow, +for Fred and Charlie were in splendid health, and it was very unlikely +that they would become seriously ill during the two days' journey +up-river. + +'It seems to me,' Charlie said, when he heard of the arrangement that +had been made, 'that I shall never make a really enjoyable trip on +water. My first voyage I made as a cook, and had a bullying skipper to +worry me. Then I escaped to what I thought was a mission ship, but it +turned out to be a rascally coper. On the _Canton_ I had to pretend that +I was a Chinaman, and now, if I get ill, I'm to be thrown overboard.' + +'You have told the boatman that my brother and I are suffering from bad +eyes,' Fred remarked to Ping Wang; 'but he will see at a glance that +there is nothing the matter with them.' + +'I have thought of that,' Ping Wang answered, 'and have bought a pair of +Chinese goggles for each of you. I wonder that I didn't think of them +when we were at Hongkong, for they will make your disguise much more +complete. At present your eyes do not look at all like Chinamen's.' + +Charles and Fred at once put on the goggles which Ping Wang gave them, +and the skipper declared that now, if they did not speak aloud, no one +would guess that they were not Chinamen. + +'We ought to go at once,' said Ping Wang; and, after shaking hands with +the skipper, the three travellers quitted the _Canton_, and made their +way towards the boat. + +In less than five minutes the three travellers reached the spot where it +was moored. It was a long, heavy boat. The cargo was packed in the +middle of the boat, and near the stern was a roughly-made awning, +composed of mats and dirty-looking cloth, which had been erected for the +comfort of Ping Wang's invalids. + +Charlie and Fred walked aboard in silence, and assumed invalids' airs +with so much success that the boatman, believing them to be seriously +ill, said to Ping Wang, as he passed him, 'Honourable brother, do not +forget the promise which you made to your worthless servant--that if the +honourable lords with sore eyes get worse you will throw them into the +river.' + +'Have I not promised you?' Ping Wang asked, haughtily. 'Do you doubt my +word?' + +The boatman protested, humbly, that Ping Wang's word could not possibly +be doubted by his disreputable servant, adding, moreover, that he lived +simply to obey him. + +The wooden seats under the awning were hard and uncomfortable, and +Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang were soon tired of sitting there, +especially as they dared not talk, for fear of being overheard. Once +Ping Wang caught the boatman peeping under the awning. He seized him +quickly, and demanded his reason for prying on the sick travellers. + +'Noble brother,' the boatman answered, trembling with fear, 'I wanted to +see if they were dying.' + +'They are getting better,' Ping Wang declared. 'It is a good thing for +you that they are not dying, for their father is as rich as a mandarin; +and if I had to throw them overboard he would certainly have you +executed.' + +Ping Wang's romancing had the desired effect. The boatman shook with +fear, and, kowtowing before Ping Wang, groaned aloud. + +'I shall be glad if they will die in my boat,' he declared, without the +slightest intention of intimating that he hoped that Charlie and Fred +would die. He was too excited to speak calmly: for, though he dreaded +the spirits, he had a greater fear of mandarins. + +From that minute Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang were left undisturbed. The +boatman's four assistants shunned the awning, as if it sheltered lepers, +and were apparently greatly relieved when an opportunity occurred for +them to go ashore and tow the boat. The boatman remained on board, but, +except when Ping Wang addressed him, kept at a respectful distance from +the passengers. + +(_Continued on page 308._) + + + + +WHAT KATIE HEARD. + + +'How very annoying!' + +'It is really too bad to have this noisy creature foisted on us just +now.' + +Katie stood on the doorstep of her aunt's house in a very stiff, pink +frock. Her cheeks were red and rosy, for it was a warm summer day, and +her feelings were just those of any little girl who is paying her first +real visit to an aunt in the country. + +The speakers were Katie's two cousins, Janet and Clare, and the words +came very clearly through the curtains and open windows, as Katie stood +there, wondering whether the bell had really rung, or whether she had +better give it another tug. She saw her own reflection in the shining +bell-handle, and it had gone crimson all at once. + +Poor Katie! Mother had told her she would be expected, and this was what +her cousins thought about her! + +Was it not a dreadful state of affairs for a small girl at the beginning +of her first visit? Katie shut her mouth tight, and clenched her small, +hot hands, in a desperate effort to look just ordinary. It was very hard +to be brave. She would have liked to run away, but she knew that would +be cowardly. Her cheeks kept growing hotter and hotter. It was mean, she +had always heard, to listen to things that were not intended for one. +Plainly, there was only one course: to go right on, and not let anybody +know that she had overheard those dreadful, unkind words. + +The waiting and the silence was almost too much. The girls' voices died +away in the room; a bee was buzzing in a foxglove bell at her elbow, and +some cows went quietly up the lane past the green garden-gate. Then, all +at once, the door flew open, and tall Janet and fair-haired Clare stood +before her. + +'You dear child, have you come all alone? How tired she looks, Clare!' + +'Katie, Katie, haven't you got a kiss for your own Clare?' + +There was quite a chorus of greetings as they ushered puzzled Katie into +a bright room where her invalid aunt, wrapped in a shawl, and rather +pale, lay on a couch, holding out both hands to welcome the visitor. + +'Oh, dear,' thought Katie, 'I don't know how they can _pretend_ to be so +kind!' + +She stood there in the midst of them all, awkward and silent, an +honest-hearted little girl, obliged to act a most untruthful part. Try +as she might, her kisses were but cold ones. She would have liked to +push them away, and to cry out: 'You don't love me, really; you said I +was a noisy creature! Let me go home.' + +It was worse when her kind, suffering aunt took her in her arms, and +said she was 'Oh! so glad to have her to stay!' Katie felt such a mean, +horrid little girl. She did not know which way to look or where to hide +her hot cheeks. + +In the middle of the window, a large green parrot was clawing at her +perch. + +'This is Polly,' said Janet, passing a hand under the great creature's +wing. 'The people next door are going away, and they have sent her to us +till they come back.' + +Here Polly interrupted with a long, loud screech, so that everybody had +to put their hands to their ears. + +'We rather like her,' said Clare, when she had finished, 'but oh! she is +so noisy! Come and stroke her, Katie!' + +So that was the 'noisy creature!' Katie's troubles all vanished at a +stroke; and before Clare and Janet could ask what was the matter, she +was sobbing out all about the silly mistake to her kind aunt. + +[Illustration: "Katie stood on the doorstep."] + +[Illustration: "'I am afraid I have no berth here for you, my lad.'"] + + + + +ONE GOOD TURN DESERVES ANOTHER. + + +Tim Sullivan started from the town with a heavy heart, but as he left +the smoke and noise behind him, the pleasant sunshine and fresh autumn +breeze soon began to work a change in his spirits. It was good to see +green fields again, and he wished he could walk on and on, and never +return to the town life he disliked so much. + +After all, what was to prevent him? His uncle had been reproaching him +that very morning for his idleness at school, and had told him he would +never be worth anything in the office. + +'It is high time you were beginning to be of some use,' he had said. 'I +did not bargain to keep you for nothing when I took you in on your +father's death.' + +And poor Tim knew it was hard on his uncle to have this addition to his +large family. He really did try to get on at school, but it was no good. +He could not learn, and the harder he tried the more stupid he seemed to +grow. + +Before the death of his parents, when he lived such a happy life on the +little farm in Ireland, it was not so noticeable that he was not quite +like other boys. Lessons were not held of much account there, and no boy +of his age could have been more useful than Tim in all farm, field, or +garden work; so that it was a new experience for the poor boy to be +taunted with his uselessness and stupidity, and it caused him great +unhappiness. + +As he trudged along, a familiar grunt suddenly made him feel he must be +in old Ireland again. He looked round and saw a pig rooting in the ditch +by the side of the road. + +'Has he got astray?' he asked a man who was breaking stones close by. + +'Likely enough,' was the answer. 'Farmer Smale's man was driving home +pigs from market yesterday, and I thought as he passed he was getting a +bit old for work--and pigs are uncommon difficult to drive too.' + +'Not if you know the right way to set about it,' said Tim. 'Instead of +holloing and shouting and beating it with a stick, you should just stoop +down and catch the eye of the cratur, and sure he will go the way you +want.' + +The man grinned. 'You're from the Ould Counthry--no need to tell me +that, my broth of a boy!' + +Tim nodded, with an answering twinkle in his eye. + +'If you tell me where Farmer Smale lives, I will drive this pig there,' +he said. + +The directions were given. Tim soon had the pig before him, and all his +troubles were forgotten in an occupation which reminded him of old +times. + +'Perhaps doing the farmer and the pig a good turn will bring me +something good,' he thought. + +There was a tremendous grunting in the farmyard when the wanderer +rejoined his companions. Farmer Smale came out, followed by his wife, to +see what was causing such a commotion. + +'Well, you are a smart boy,' the farmer said. 'You must come in and rest +and have some tea, for pig-driving is a tiring business.' + +'It's not tired I am, sir. I only wish I had a chance to drive pigs +every day. You will not be wanting a boy to help on your farm, will you, +sir?' + +'Why, my lad, you don't look cut out for hard work,' the farmer said, +for Tim's stunted growth, and the large head, out of proportion to his +small body, made him look less strong than other boys. + +'I can work hard with my hands,' he said. 'It is only lessons and +figures which bother me.' + +'Well, I am afraid I have no berth here for you, my lad. Besides, I +could not take a boy I knew nothing about, even if he was kind enough to +bring home my pig.' + +Tim's face fell. He looked bitterly disappointed. + +'Have you no people of your own, my dear?' asked Mrs. Smale, and Tim +thought she had the kindest face he had ever seen. + +'Now, missus, you go in and get tea ready for this little chap,' her +husband said. + +He wanted to have her out of the way, for he knew how soft-hearted his +wife was. She never could turn away a tramp or a beggar from her door; +she gave food and shelter to all stray dogs and cats, and a blackbird in +a cage outside the window bore witness to her kind nature. She had +rescued a nest full of fledglings from some cruel boys and had tried to +bring them up by hand. Only one survived, and although she had set it +free when it was old enough to take care of itself, it often flew back +to its old home, the door of which was always left open. + +While they were having tea, Mrs. Smale drew from the boy all his sad +little story, and of course she wanted the farmer to give him a home. + +'Will Ford is getting old, and needs some help in attending to the +animals,' she said. + +'I had a lot to do with cattle on Father's farm,' Tim broke in eagerly, +'and I know all there is to know about pigs, though I am no scholar.' + +The farmer smiled. 'I suppose I shall have to give you a chance, sonny, +as the missus has set her heart on it. But I must see this uncle of +yours. Perhaps he may object.' + +'He will be glad to get rid of me,' Tim said. + +His words proved true, and before a week had passed Tim was settled in +his new home. He worked with a will, and liked his work, because he felt +he was at last of some use in the world instead of being a burden to +others. + +And the pig that had led him to such a happy position received such a +special share of attention that he grew fatter and bigger than any of +his fellows. + +'One good turn deserves another,' Tim would think. 'The pig got me this +job, and sure and I am paying him back for it.' + + + + +THE FOX'S SERENADE. + + + Little Goose, I love thee, little Goose. + All the stars are flinging + Bright blue beams above me, + As I'm sweetly singing + How I dearly love thee. + Here I'm waiting; is it any use? + Little Goose, + More than words can tell I love thee dearly, + More than tongue can tell--or very nearly. + + Little Goose, I love thee, little Goose. + The shadows cling together, + The moonbeams give sweet kisses; + How I wonder whether + We shall know such blisses. + To my mother you I'll introduce, + Little Goose. + She will greet you with a smile so cheery, + Like a mother kind--or very nearly. + + Little Goose, I love thee, little Goose. + Hark, the farmer's coming + With his ugly rifle; + So I must be roaming, + For I dare not trifle: + And the watch-dog he will now unloose, + Little Goose. + Some night in the future I'll come really, + Make you all my own--or very nearly. + + + + +THE COW-TREE. + + +One of the very remarkable trees of South America--a region notable for +its natural-history wonders--is that called the cow-tree. It receives +that name, not because in its shape it is at all like a cow, but +because, at certain seasons, it yields an abundant supply of milk. It +grows in hilly districts, usually where very little moisture is to be +had for several months of the year. This makes it more singular that a +plentiful flow of milky fluid will come from the trunk, on boring into +it deeply, though the branches look dried. It is believed that most milk +is got when the tree is tapped about sunrise, or when the moon is nearly +full. If the milk is put aside for a time, a thick cake forms upon it, +under which is a clear liquid. Some of it kept in a bottle, well corked +up, was once preserved for several months. The cork, on being extracted, +came out with a loud report, followed by a bluish smoke; the milk was a +little acid, but not disagreeable to taste. + +A grove of cow-trees is a grand sight, for the species grows to a great +height, and the trunk may be fifty or more feet without a branch; near +the top the branches cluster together, displaying tough and ribbed +leaves. Many of these leaves are ten or twelve inches long. The tree +bears fruits of moderate size, each containing one or two nuts, which +are said to have the flavour of strawberries and cream. From the bark of +the tree, soaked in water, a bread has been made, which proved nearly as +nourishing as wheaten bread. + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +X.--HOW INSECTS MAKE SILK. + + +Of all the marvellous things of which the lower creatures are capable, +certainly one of the most wonderful is their power of spinning threads +of the most beautiful fineness, some of which we know as 'silk,' while +for others we have no special name. + +Though insects are--at least, from our point of view--the most important +of the world's spinners, yet they are not the only creatures who possess +this secret, for the spiders and mussels and the pearl oyster have also +shown themselves very wonderful spinners. + +The purposes for which the fine thread is spun are very different. +Caterpillars use it chiefly as a means of providing a warm covering +while in the chrysalis stage: so also do some beetles. The spider uses +its silk to build cunning traps for unwary flies. The mussel lying below +the surface of the sea employs its power as a spinner to construct a +cable, which, being fastened to the rocks on the sea-bed, prevents the +otherwise helpless mussel from being washed away. + +In the silkworm (fig. 1) the silk is produced by certain peculiar +structures, tube-like in shape, known as the silk-glands. The silk is +created in a liquid form in the inside of the silk-gland, and, becoming +mixed with a kind of gum, is forced through a sort of mechanical press, +from which it comes through the mouth in the form of the delicate +threads which we know as 'silk.' + +This silk is used by caterpillars for various purposes, and varies much +in quality: that spun by silkworm caterpillars is much prized by man. +The caterpillar uses it to form a case for the protection of its body +when turning into a chrysalis, from which it will emerge later a +full-grown moth. + +When spinning, the caterpillar begins by sending out the end of a thread +which is quite soft and sticky. This immediately sticks to the object to +which it is attached. This done, every movement of the caterpillar's +head draws a fresh piece of the silk thread from its mouth. When +spinning a cocoon, the thread is made to form a long, oval, egg-shaped +case around the body of the caterpillar. But sometimes, as in the case +of those caterpillars which live in companies, it is used to form a +sheet or tent within which the tent-makers dwell. Other caterpillars use +the power of weaving silk as a means of escape from enemies. When in +danger they let themselves down on to the ground by attaching the end of +a thread to a leaf or twig, and then dropping off, leaving the thread to +be drawn from the mouth by the weight of the body as it falls. + +Under the microscope each thread of silk is seen to be double: the total +length of the thread when unwound from the cocoon is over a thousand +feet. Over four hundred different kinds of silk-producing caterpillars +are known. + +The spinning glands of the spider are placed at the tail end of the +body, but the threads spun therefrom, though strong, are of little use +for commercial purposes. Silk fabrics have, however, been made from +spider webs, but these are only curiosities. + +The silk, or, as we may call them, the spinning glands, consist of from +two to four pairs of organs, or 'spinnerets,' placed together in a small +cluster. The threads which they form are made, as in the case of the +silk of the caterpillar, of a sticky fluid, which, when drawn out +through the tiny holes of the spinnerets, and exposed to the air, form +fine threads, and these combining together form the silky thread with +which we are familiar. + +One of the principal uses of the silk threads is to form nets to catch +small insects. These nets are often--as is the case of the garden +spider, for example--very beautiful. In their construction the greatest +skill is shown. The method is briefly as follows: First of all a large +five-sided frame is formed; then long threads, which are rather like the +spokes of a wheel, are added. These harden at once, and to them are +attached the cross-threads, which form the delicate network of the +complete web. But if the web be examined with a strong magnifying glass, +there will be found, among the network, a number of threads bearing +little drops of a sticky substance (fig. 2). These are made by special +glands, and differ from the ordinary threads in that they do not dry on +being exposed to the air. They serve the purpose of bird-lime--that is +to say, they are there to aid in entangling insects which fly up against +the web. Having spread his net, the spider returns to a little shelter +woven on the under side of a leaf. Here he waits for his victims, +holding in one of his claws a long, delicate thread attached to the web, +so as to serve as a means of communication with the trap, the vibrations +set up by the struggles of the captive giving warning by shaking the +communication cord! He then rushes out, if the victim be small, and +throwing himself upon the wretched prisoner, sucks him dry and cuts away +the web so as to release the empty carcase. Should a wasp or bee happen +to be caught, the proceedings are much more cautious, and the spider +himself often proves the victim. + +[Illustration: Fig. 1.--Silkworm, natural size.] + +Spiders when small often use their spinnerets much as the witches of old +were supposed to use a broom-stick--that is to say, as a means of +travelling through the air. Turning the end of the body upwards they +force out a few threads, which, caught by the breeze, are blown away, +and so a number of long threads are rapidly drawn out, sufficiently long +at last to carry the spider itself with them. When too heavy to fly, +they sometimes send a thread adrift and wait until it catches in some +projecting bough; this done, they make fast the end to the bough or leaf +on which they may be resting, and climb along this tight-rope to build a +new home. + +[Illustration: Fig. 2.--Silk Threads of Spider's Web, highly magnified.] + +The floating threads formed by broods of small spiders are sometimes +very numerous, and cover everything: they are especially noticeable in +hedges, and are one of the causes of what is called in the country +'Gossamer.' + +W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S., A.L.S. + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 303._) + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +The journey up-river was a very tedious one, and promised to be longer +than Ping Wang had expected, for, as soon as darkness came up, the boat +was moored for the night near a riverside village. The boatman declared, +in a very humble tone, that he dared not go any further until daybreak +for fear of being attacked by pirates. + +On the following morning, at daybreak, the journey was resumed, but +before the travellers had covered two miles, while the mist was still +hanging over the river, Ping Wang noticed a boat rapidly overtaking +them. It was a long, narrow craft, paddled by eight men. Another man +knelt in the bows, and two more stood up in the stern. The latter were +armed with old-fashioned rifles. + +'Pirates!' the boat-owner shouted in terror when he had glanced at the +pursuers, and instantly there was a panic among his men. One of them +dived into the river and swam towards the bank; but the other three, +who could not swim, ceased rowing, and hid themselves among the cargo. + +[Illustration: "Fred took aim and fired."] + +'Make the cowards row,' Ping Wang commanded the boat-owner, but without +any result, for the man was himself terror-stricken. + +'Hasn't the wretched man got any weapons aboard?' Charlie said aloud. + +Ping Wang translated Charlie's question, and the boat-owner answered +promptly, 'Your miserable slave has one gun, which does not belong to +him. He is taking it to a mandarin. Your wretched servant does not know +where it was bought.' + +'Never mind about that,' Ping Wang declared, guessing at once that the +fellow had a rifle which had been stolen from some European. 'Bring it +here at once.' + +The boat-owner produced quickly a long bundle of cloth, and from the +middle of it pulled out a rifle. + +'A Lee-Metford,' Fred exclaimed, as he snatched the rifle out of the +man's hand. 'Where is the ammunition?' + +'Here it is,' Ping Wang said, as he burst open a box and displayed +several packets of cartridges. + +'That is splendid,' Fred declared, as he opened a packet. Like many +London medical students, he had become a Volunteer, and was, moreover, a +good shot. Having placed the open packet of cartridges beside him, he +took up the rifle, and, after loading it, raised it to his shoulder, but +did not yet fire. 'I won't shoot,' he said, 'until I am sure they mean +to attack us.' + +He had not long to wait before receiving proof of the pirates' +intention. The boat was approaching fast, and when it was about a +hundred yards from them, the pirates fired. Their rifles made a +tremendous noise, and the travellers' boat was hit about an inch above +water. + +'That is enough,' Fred declared, and, placing his left foot on a seat +and resting his left elbow on his knee, he took aim and fired. + +'Good shot, Fred!' Charlie cried, as one of the pirates who had fired on +them fell forward, wounded, among his comrades. The pirates had +evidently not expected such a reception, and the result of Fred's shot +filled them with dismay. They ceased rowing, and took counsel for a few +moments. + +'Look out, Fred,' Charlie said, 'there is a man in the bow with a +breechloader. He's aiming at you.' + +Just as he spoke the man fired, and the bullet whizzed perilously near +to Fred's head. + +'Get under cover,' Charlie begged, but Fred replied calmly, 'I can do +best where I am.' + +Again he fired, and this time he smashed the blade of an oar. + +Finding that no one was hit by that shot, the pirates took courage, and +the three men with guns fired simultaneously, but without doing any +damage. + +'I'll give them the magazine,' Fred said, and fired eight times in quick +succession. How many men he hit they never knew. Charlie and Ping Wang +saw five men throw up their arms, while a sixth, who fell overboard, +made such frantic efforts to save himself that the boat capsized. + +'Now row,' Ping Wang shouted, and, pulling the three boatmen from their +hiding-places, pushed them back to their oars. Seeing that all danger +was gone, the men smiled happily as they resumed work, and were not at +all ashamed of their recent cowardice. + +Charlie turned to his brother. 'Fred, I am awfully proud of you--you +have saved our lives! I wish I had joined the Volunteers. But, I say,' +he continued, 'put on your goggles, or the boatmen will see that you are +not a Chinaman.' + +'They must have found that out some minutes ago,' Fred answered, 'for we +have been talking ever since we saw the pirates.' + +'Perhaps they did not notice it,' Ping Wang suggested; but he soon +discovered that this was not the case. + +While Fred, from force of habit, was cleaning the rifle after using it, +the boat-owner approached the travellers, and said to Ping Wang: 'The +foreigner shoots very straight in spite of his sore eyes.' + +'He has saved your life,' Ping Wang replied, sharply. 'If he had not +shot the pirates, they would have killed all of us.' + +'That is true, honourable brother. I and my men are full of gratitude.' + +'Then you must all vow not to tell any one that he is a foreigner.' + +The boatman considered the matter for a few moments. 'We will promise. +We will take an oath,' he declared at length. He lighted a piece of +paper, and, as it burned to ashes, he expressed the hope that, if he +told any one that the two men with goggles were foreigners, he might +also be totally destroyed by fire. The other men took the oath in the +same fashion. + +'Will they keep it?' Charlie inquired, when Ping Wang had made known to +Fred and him the nature of the oath. + +'I cannot be sure of it,' Ping Wang said. + +'I will keep this rifle until we reach the end of our river-trip,' Fred +declared. + +Shortly after the sun had set, the boat arrived at the place where Ping +Wang had decided to land. + +'The foreigners and I will not land until daybreak,' he said to the +boat-owner. 'Moor the boat. It will be safer for us to begin our journey +by daylight,' Ping Wang said to Charlie and Fred, after telling them +that they were to remain on board until the morning. 'I have not +travelled by the road we are going to take since I was a small boy, and +consequently it is not familiar to me. There is another road which leads +to Kwang-ngan, but it is more frequented than the one by which we are to +travel. Our road is a round-about one, and rarely used since the shorter +road has been made. I hope that we shall meet very few people.' + +'How far shall we have to walk before we reach the first village?' +Charlie asked. + +'About five miles; and Kwang-ngan is six miles beyond that.' + +'Then we shall be there to-morrow night, I suppose?' + +'I hope so. By-the-bye, do you feel hungry?' + +'Very,' Charlie answered, speaking for Fred as well as for himself. + +'Then I'll ask the boat-owner to sell us a couple of ducks I know he has +on board.' + +Ping Wang returned to his friends presently, holding in his hands two +well-cooked ducks. + +'We shall soon polish these off,' Charlie said, as he, Fred, and Ping +Wang took their seats under the awning, with the ducks on a big wooden +plate on their knees. + +'Your appetite always was enormous,' Fred remarked. 'But I was thinking +whether we ought not to save one of them. Ping Wang, shall we have any +difficulty in obtaining food to-morrow?' + +'I don't think so,' Ping Wang replied. 'However, it would be a good +thing to save one of the birds until the morning, so that we may have a +good meal to start the day.' + +One duck was therefore kept, and the other eaten. Ten minutes after the +meal, Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang were sound asleep, with the duck near +them on the wooden dish in which it had been served up. When they awoke +at daybreak the dish was where they had left it, but the duck had +disappeared. + +'This is serious,' Ping Wang said. 'One of the boatmen must have stolen +it. I will ask them.' + +He did so; but the men promptly vowed that they had not stolen the duck. +They did not appear at all surprised, however, when the accusation was +made; and Ping Wang concluded that they were not speaking the truth. + +'As you have stolen the duck,' Ping Wang continued, sternly, 'you must +return to me the money which I gave for it.' + +'Would my honourable brother rob his slave?' the boat-owner asked, in +alarm. + +'Yes. If you cannot give me the duck, I must have back the price I paid +for it. If you cannot give me the money, I will keep the rifle which the +foreigner is holding.' + +This decision alarmed the boat-owner. 'Honourable brother,' he said, +after a few moments' silence, 'I will search for the duck: perhaps it +has rolled off the dish.' + +He searched in what appeared to Ping Wang to be very unlikely places, +and found the missing dainty in a basket on top of the pile of cargo. + +'The rifle shall be given you,' said Ping Wang, and then turned to speak +to Charlie and Fred. 'We had better breakfast on shore,' he said; 'let +us land at once.' + +Ping Wang handed over the Lee-Metford to the boat-owner, and the three +travellers stepped ashore, thoroughly glad to get out of the boat. + +(_Continued on page 317._) + + + + +ENCOUNTERS WITH LIONS. + + +The accounts which travellers and hunters sometimes give us of their +encounters with wild animals are often very interesting, not only +because they are exciting, but also because they show us the habits of +the various animals, and the effects which are produced upon the human +brain by these sudden and unusual attacks. + +Mr. Moffat, the missionary, describes the very strange behaviour of a +lion which caught a native asleep. The man was returning home from a +visit alone, when, tired with his walk, he sat down to refresh himself +by the side of a pool, and fell asleep. He awoke with the heat of the +sun, and found a lion crouching scarcely more than a yard from his feet. +He sat still for a few minutes, and tried to think what he ought to do. +His gun was lying a little distance away beyond his reach, and he moved +his hand towards it several times. But whenever he did so, the lion +raised his head and uttered a loud roar. So long as the man remained +quite still, the lion did not molest him. The day and the night passed, +and neither the man nor the lion moved from the spot. At noon on the +following day the lion went down to the pool for a drink, watching the +poor man all the while, and then returned to its former position. +Another night passed, and again on the following day the lion went for a +drink. On this occasion it was alarmed by some noise, and made off to +the bush. The poor native crawled to his gun, and then crept down to the +pool to drink. His toes were so scorched by the heat of the rock that he +could not walk. Fortunately, he was discovered by a person passing, and +was rescued. He lost the use of his toes, however, and he was a cripple +for the rest of his life. + +Livingstone once nearly lost his life in an encounter with a lion in +South Africa. He had gone out to shoot one of a troop of lions, in order +to frighten the rest away from the village. After the natives who were +with him had allowed several to escape, Livingstone shot at one about +thirty yards off, and wounded it. He was quietly re-loading his gun, +when he heard a shout from one of his attendants, and, looking up, he +saw the lion springing upon him. It caught him by the shoulder, and +shook him as a dog shakes a rat. The shaking seemed to deprive him of +his sense of feeling, and he felt neither pain nor alarm, though he knew +quite well what was happening. The lion growled all the while, and +placed his heavy foot upon the doctor's head. At this moment one of the +natives had courage enough to fire, and, though the shot failed, the +lion's attention was drawn to the native, and it rushed upon him and bit +him in the thigh. Another native tried to spear it, and he in his turn +was attacked, and bitten in the shoulder. But this time the lion was +exhausted by its wounds, and fell down dead. + +Not long ago a Government ranger in the Transvaal had a fierce struggle +with a lion, which was reported in _The Field_. He was riding homewards +alone, having left his companions behind, when he heard his dog bark at +something near the path, and saw a lion crouching near him on the right +side, ready to spring. He turned his horse quickly and the lion missed +his spring, but the ranger was thrown from his horse. No sooner did he +touch the ground than another lion pounced upon him from the opposite +side, while the first ran after the runaway horse. The second lion +seized him by the right shoulder, and dragged him quickly along the +path, his back and legs trailing along the ground. The animal growled +and purred like a cat with a mouse, but in very much louder tones. The +poor ranger was greatly distressed, both in body and in mind, and it was +not until the lion had dragged him about two hundred yards that he +remembered that he had a sheath-knife at his belt. As the lion stopped +at the foot of a large tree, he drew his sheath-knife with his left +hand, and stabbed the animal twice in the right side. The lion jumped +back, and in a few moments he turned and walked away, growling and +moaning as he went. Meanwhile, the ranger climbed a tree, and tied +himself to a branch, lest he should lose consciousness and fall off. +There he was found by his companions, and conveyed to the nearest +hospital. The body of the lion was afterwards discovered not far away. +Its heart had been pierced by the blade of the sheath-knife. The lion +was an old male, and its empty stomach showed that it had been rendered +unusually fierce by hunger. + +[Illustration: "The second lion seized him."] + +[Illustration: "'It is good! very good!'"] + + + + +PHILIP WOOD AND SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN. + + +'Be off, I tell you! We want no loiterers here!' said a workman, roughly +pushing away a country lad who was gazing with deep interest at the busy +crowd of people engaged in the rebuilding of St. Paul's Cathedral. + +This famous church, destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666, was now--some +three years later--being restored under the direction of Sir Christopher +Wren. + +'I am not loitering, sir,' answered the lad humbly. 'I have come up from +Suffolk to seek work. I can carve, and I can----' + +'Be off, I tell you!' harshly interrupted the foreman; 'we want no +hedge-carpenters here! Here comes the master. Be off, or he will make +short work of you!' + +The master, no less a person than the great Sir Christopher himself, now +came up, and catching sight of the lad, said sternly: + +'Who is that youth? Has he business here? If not, bid him begone, for +lookers-on hinder the work.' + +'Just what I was telling him, your honour,' said the foreman, scowling +at the boy. 'He has come to look for work, he says, but I told him we +wanted no country bumpkins here.' + +Sir Christopher cast a searching glance at the boy. 'What sort of work +can you do?' he asked. + +The boy, Philip Wood, by name, was much flustered at being addressed by +the great architect himself, and hardly knowing what he said, he +stammered out, 'I am very fond of carving, sir.' + +'Carving--umph! What was the last thing you carved?' asked Sir +Christopher. + +'The last thing was a trough, but----' and Philip was about to describe +the group of roses and columbines he had made for the Squire's +chimney-piece, but was interrupted by a scornful laugh from the foreman. + +'A trough! and he to seek work on St. Paul's! Let him return to his +swine.' + +Sir Christopher joined in the laugh. Then, seeing the crestfallen look +of the boy, he said, half-scornfully, 'Troughs! Well, then, you have +seen pigs. Suppose your carve me a sow and her little ones; that will be +in your line. Bring it me here this day week.' + +He walked away, and the workmen burst into loud laughter as they hustled +Philip out of the yard. + +He, poor fellow, was utterly cast down at this mocking suggestion of Sir +Christopher's, and hurrying back to his attic he flung himself on his +bed and burst into tears. + +Some hours later, his landlady, a motherly old soul, who pitied the +friendless lad, toiled up the attic stairs with a basin of broth for +him, knowing that he had had no food that day. + +'Highty-tighty!' she said, going up to Philip and putting a kind hand on +his shoulder. 'What's amiss? What's wrong to-day may prove right on the +morrow, so never fret, lad.' + +Philip could not resist her sympathy, and she soon got from him the +story of his reception by Sir Christopher, and how the great architect +had scornfully told him to go and carve 'a sow and her little ones.' + +'It was all my own fault,' continued the boy. 'I was so confused, I +never told him of the bedstead I had carved for the Hall, nor of the +mantel-shelf, but I blurted out about the trough, and then he bade me +"carve a sow,"' and Philip turned red at the remembrance. + +'He said that, did he?' said the woman eagerly. 'Then do it, and show +your skill. Sir Christopher bade you come again, and he will not refuse +to see you. Set to work on the sow, and mind she is a good one.' + +Encouraged by these words, Philip got up, drank the broth, and, feeling +cheered by the food, took his last crown-piece, bought a good block of +wood, and returned to his attic. + +He worked at his wood block from morning to night for the next week, +hoping--aye, and praying earnestly--that he might turn out something +that the master would not despise. + +It was finished at last, and pronounced by the landlady to be 'as like a +sow as one pea is like another.' So, hoping much and fearing more, +Philip took his group, carefully wrapped in an apron lent him for the +purpose, and made his way to the Cathedral yard. + +'Hallo! here comes our young hedge-carpenter,' exclaimed the foreman, as +Philip passed the gate. 'What's he got so carefully wrapped up? Another +trough, I take it. Let's have a look at the treasure,' and as he spoke +he reached towards the bundle. + +But Philip would not part with it. 'No,' he said firmly. 'Sir +Christopher set me the task, and he shall be the first to see it.' + +Before long Sir Christopher appeared, and, seeing the boy standing +humbly waiting by the gate, he called to him, and, taking the bundle +from Philip's hands, slowly unwound the wrapping. There, to the very +life, was a fat old sow, with nine little piglings grouped about her in +every possible attitude. + +Sir Christopher looked long at the group, saying never a word, whilst +poor Philip grew hot and cold with terror. He hardly knew if his work +were good or bad; he only knew that he had put all his heart into it, +and tried to do his very best. + +At last the great man spoke. + +'It is good! very good!' he said firmly. 'I will keep it and give you a +guinea for it, and I engage you, young man, to work on this building. +Attend at my office to-morrow forenoon.' + +Philip bowed low; his heart was too full to speak, and Sir Christopher +continued: + +'I fear I did you some injustice a little time back, and for this I am +sorry; but a great national work is entrusted to my care, and it is my +duty to see that no part of the work falls into unskilful hands.' + + * * * * * + +So the country lad, Philip Wood of Sudbury, accomplished his ambition, +and found regular work on St. Paul's Cathedral. + +Those people who care to study the old parchments, still preserved, on +which the building accounts of the Cathedral are kept, may read that +large sums of money were from time to time paid to Philip Wood (or +Haylittle as he was called after his marriage, when he took his wife's +name), 'for carved work in the cathedral church of St. Paul.' + +S. CLARENDON. + + + + +THE TWO DOLLS. + + + I have a doll, an old, old doll, + The playmate of many years; + I've danced around with her in my smiles, + And hugged her tight in my tears. + + And I've a doll, a new, new doll, + 'Twas given me yesterday; + Dressed out in silk and beautiful lace, + Ever so bonny and gay. + + One is battered and scratched and grey, + The other has hair like gold; + But much as I love the new, new doll, + Better I love the old. + + + + +GEMMAL RINGS. + + +Rings, from a time very far back, have been worn as ornaments on the +hands, and given by people to each other as tokens of affection or as a +sign of power. The oldest rings known were very large and cumbrous, and +they were adorned with stones, sometimes flattened to make seals on wax +or clay. The gemmal ring, as it is called, is an old kind, probably +several centuries old, and rings of this sort are not made now. From +what we know about them, it would appear the first ones were of French +work, that nation being long remarkable for skill in contriving curious +jewellery. Some may have been made in Italy, and even in our own land +rings have been dug up from the earth, where they were hidden away with +other valuables, or perhaps occasionally buried with those who had worn +them. + +A gemmal ring has a double row of hoops, locked within each other like +the links of a chain. One edge of each ring is flat, so that when one is +slipped over the other, the gemmal looks like a single ring. While +opened out, two persons can put a finger into the hoops, and this fact +gives the origin of the old name applied to them, though it has somehow +got a little altered. 'Geminal' was the proper spelling, coming from the +Latin _geminus_ (a twin), because such a ring is twin or double. Of +course, owing to its form, a gemmal ring was valued as a love token; and +at one period it was often used as an engagement ring, or even as a +marriage ring. It is supposed that some gemmals, which have one ring +gold and the other silver, were made for wedding rings, the gold being +for the wife and the silver for the husband. There are gemmals still +existing which are adorned with precious stones, and some have singular +devices on their sides. One found at Horsleydown, in Surrey, had on each +of the two parts of the ring a hand, draped, and holding half a heart; +when the ring was closed, the hands appeared joined, holding a whole +heart between them. Other rings had mottoes in French or English. + +The word 'gemmal' was formerly applied to other objects besides rings. +Thus we have in Shakespeare a mention of the 'gemmal bit,' some sort of +double bit for a horse. + +J. R. S. C. + + + + +WONDERFUL CAVERNS. + +IX.--THE GROTTO OF LA BALME. + + +The worshippers of Buddha and Brahma have not been alone in taking +advantage of caverns to build temples and religious houses, for in +Dauphine, in Eastern France, we find the magnificent grotto of La Balme +used for the same purpose. The builders of the West have not, however, +taken the same trouble over hewing out the solid rock as did their +Eastern brethren, but have contented themselves with building in an +ordinary way a handsome church in the mouth of the cave. The cave is of +great height, being more than a hundred feet to the roof, whilst the +breadth at the entrance is sixty-five feet. + +In reality the building consists of two chapels placed side by side, +with rooms for the clergy and a belfry. The effect of the white building +against the dark arch of the cavern, surrounded by a frame of rich green +creepers, is very fine. Masonry has also been used to support the cliff +to the right of the church. A broad causeway with parapets leads into +the cave, and down each side rushes a stream, which comes from the +recesses beyond. + +On entering the cavern the roof soon becomes lower, and we soon find +that the single cave divides into two long galleries. Taking the one to +the left, we come into what is called the Grotto of Diamonds, in which +the water oozing through the rocks has left a crystal sediment which +sparkles like diamonds when light is flashed over it. Small rock basins +form a ring, and, pouring water from one to the other in tiny cascades, +have also crystallised into beautiful forms which reflect and multiply +the gleams of light. + +We follow a rocky ledge edged with a fringe of stalactite drops about +six inches long, and then creep along a dangerous path with dark depths +on either side. This leads downwards to a tranquil lake which reflects +our lamps and torches. + +On our return we take the gallery to the right, and come across a +curious stalagmite (called the Capuchin Monk), wonderfully like a human +being about six feet high. All around are stalactites and stalagmites of +every possible form, and we long to do a great deal more exploration of +the endless rock passages branching on every side. But, alas! they are +too dangerous, owing to the endless crevasses of unknown depth which +cross and recross the rocky galleries, where a slip probably means a +horrible death. + +[Illustration: Entrance to the Grotto of La Balme.] + +As long ago as the time of Francis I. of France, who reigned in the +sixteenth century, two criminals condemned to death, were, by order of +the King, offered their lives if they explored the Grotto of La Balme to +its extreme limits. No record seems to have been kept whether they +accepted the offer. Possibly they preferred a certain and speedy form of +death to long sufferings in the darkness and terrors of the gloomy +cavern. + +HELENA HEATH. + +[Illustration: "Some Yamen runners rushed out and seized them."] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 311._) + + +As soon as the travellers had landed, they set out on the road to +Kwang-ngan, eating the second duck as they went. They understood +perfectly that they were about to begin the most dangerous part of their +journey. + +'Don't appear surprised at anything you see or hear,' was Ping Wang's +sensible advice, 'and remember that an exclamation from either of you +would probably lead to its being discovered that you are not Chinamen.' + +Charlie and Fred promised not to forget what he had said. + +When they had trudged about three-quarters of a mile they joined the +main road to the village for which they were bound, and from now onwards +at every few yards they met a Chinaman. + +The Pages thoroughly enjoyed the novel scene. Chinamen of almost all +stations of life seemed to be using that road. One moment they would see +a pompous-looking man riding on a sturdy, shaggy pony; the next, a dandy +being carried in a palanquin. Coolies with a long pole across one +shoulder, and a basket or bundle hanging from each end, hurried past +them at a shuffling kind of run. Heavier loads were carried on poles, +which rested on the shoulders of two coolies. Occasionally some +pedestrian would make a friendly remark to the three travellers, and +when that happened Ping Wang replied in the most genial manner. + +When they had been on the tramp for about an hour and a half, Ping Wang +looked round, and seeing that no Chinamen were near, said, as he pointed +to a square-looking object in the distance, 'That is Su-ching, our first +halting-place.' + +After this the three friends were compelled to remain silent, so +constantly were they meeting people, and the nearer they drew to the +town the more numerous did the people become. The town was enclosed by a +brick wall, and from a distance looked able to withstand the attack of +any enemy; but a closer inspection showed that the defences were +practically worthless, and that the town could be quickly destroyed by +modern guns. In some places the walls had crumbled away. Some of the +guns were so old and rusty that to have fired them would have done more +harm to the gunners than to the enemy. But most of the guns were +dummies--wooden things, mounted to give a formidable look to the place. + +'Will there be any difficulty about getting into the town?' Fred +whispered. + +'Oh, no!' Ping Wang replied. 'We will enter by that gate facing us. +There will probably be some soldiers there, but they won't interfere +with us.' + +Ten minutes later Ping Wang and the Pages arrived at the open gate, near +which were some half-dozen dirty rascals playing some Chinese game. They +were soldiers, but so interested were they in their game that they did +not even glance at the people passing in and out. Ping Wang told Fred +and Charlie, later, that these imitations of soldiers usually passed +their time in that fashion. + +Once in the town Charlie and Fred felt that they were comparatively +safe, for it seemed that among the large population they would escape +notice. No one appeared to suspect that they were not Chinamen, and Ping +Wang, who had recently been regretting he had induced the Pages to take +part in such a dangerous enterprise, became convinced that they would +reach the house for which they were bound without any difficulty. The +reason for entering the town was to discover from a cousin of his, who +resided there, if Chin Choo were still alive. He knew that it was a +risky thing for him to do to bring the Pages into the town, but he was +convinced that to have left them by themselves outside would have been +far more dangerous. + +'In a few minutes,' he said, quietly, 'we shall arrive at my cousin's +house. He is a Christian, and will not let any one know that you are +Englishmen. He will give us a meal, and then we can start off refreshed +to Kwang-ngan.' + +But before they had gone another fifty yards, and just as they were +passing a big building, which Ping Wang whispered was the residence of +some high official, some twenty Yamen runners, or policemen, suddenly +rushed out of the courtyard and seized the three of them. The men were +armed with swords, and to have resisted would have been madness. Ping +Wang indignantly asked to be told why they were treated thus, but got no +reply. Charlie and Fred had the good sense not to utter a word, for, +although they believed that it had been discovered that they were +Europeans, they were determined not to convict themselves. With +unnecessary roughness they were hurried into the courtyard from which +their captors had sallied, and before long a mandarin came out of the +house to inspect them. He was not attired in his official clothes, and +did not come within twenty yards of the prisoners, but after a glance at +them made some remark to the leader of the men who had captured them, +and then returned indoors. + +Ping Wang was still ignorant of the cause of their arrest, but, as no +cries of 'Foreigners!' had been raised, he knew that it had not yet been +discovered that Charlie and Fred were Europeans. Once again he demanded +to be told why they had been arrested, but, instead of replying, the +leader raised his bamboo cane menacingly. As Ping Wang had no desire to +be beaten, he made no further efforts to solve the mystery of their +arrest. His sole anxiety now was as to what would be done to them. That +they were supposed to have committed some crime he guessed, and that +they would be punished, although they had not been tried, he was also +sure. + +Without any delay, Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang were marched out of the +courtyard, and through the streets, until they came to a large building, +which Ping Wang recognised with dismay as a prison. But, with a thrill +of hope, he found that they were not taken into the prison, but marched +round the wall until they came to a spot where there were half-a-dozen +wooden collars lying on the ground. These wooden collars are very much +like the old English pillory, with the exception that the person who has +to wear the instrument is not placed on a platform, but stands or sits +on the ground. + +Charlie and Fred did not recognise the instruments of punishment, and, +when they were suddenly flung to the ground, they imagined that they +were about to be executed. As they felt the collars tighten round their +necks, and had their hands pushed through two holes lower down on the +wooden board, they came to the conclusion that they were to be tortured +to death. But when they found that nothing more was done to them they +turned their heads--as far as their wooden collars would permit--to see +how their companion was faring. Then, seeing each other, they +understood the nature of their punishment. + +The Chinamen, having chained the wooden collars to the prison wall, +departed, leaving the three prisoners to the tender mercies of any +passers-by. + +'Now they are all gone I must speak,' Charlie exclaimed. 'How long will +they keep us in these things?' + +'I haven't the faintest idea,' Ping Wang answered. + +For fully half an hour they did not speak a word. Scores of people +passed them during that time, but very few took any notice of them, for +it was by no means an unusual sight to see prisoners there. Two or three +chaffed them, but no one molested them. Their first tormentors were two +boys, who walked up and down in front of them, pulling their noses as +they passed; but, fortunately, an official, whose duty it was to pay +periodical visits to men in their position, came in sight, and the young +rascals fled in alarm. + +This official, who was aged, smiled with delight at having caused the +boys to go without much exertion on his part. He wore a hat which +reminded Charlie and Fred of a candle-extinguisher. In other respects +his costume did not differ from that of any ordinary Chinaman. + +'Venerable uncle,' Ping Wang exclaimed as soon as the old man reached +them, 'why are your dogs of servants placed in the wooden collars?' + +The old man smiled, for in his time he had heard hundreds of prisoners +ask that question. Nevertheless he replied, for he always treated +prisoners courteously, having seen many respectable men in the position +of his questioner. + +'Did not my honourable brothers steal a horse that belonged to the +foreigners?' he asked. + +'Your dogs of servants have not stolen anything.' + +The old man laughed incredulously. 'The foreigners say that you did,' he +declared. + +'They have not seen us.' + +'But they have declared to the mandarin that three men stole their horse +at daybreak. Therefore you were arrested.' + +Having given this very unsatisfactory piece of information, the old man +calmly walked away. + +When he was out of hearing, Ping Wang said to his friends in misfortune: +'We are arrested for horse-stealing. Some foreigners--missionaries, I +imagine, as there are not likely to be any other Europeans in this +place--have complained that they have had their horse stolen by three +men. Evidently the mandarin, or one of his subordinates, promised to +inquire into the matter, and, in order to give the missionaries the +impression that they had caught the thieves, ordered the arrest of any +three men. Apparently we happened to be passing just as the Yamen +runners started out, and therefore they took us. Now the mandarin will +inform the missionaries that he has had the thieves caught and +punished.' + +Nothing more was said by either of the unfortunate prisoners for nearly +an hour, so continuously were people passing to and fro. Their necks +were aching terribly, and, in spite of their determination not to lose +heart, they became very dispirited. + +(_Continued on page 324._) + + + + +A COAT OF PAINT. + + +'I want the boat smartened up a bit, Jack. You will lend a hand this +afternoon, and help me to give her a fresh coat of paint.' + +'What is the use of wasting paint over an old thing like that, +Grandfather? You only use her for taking out the lobster-pots. I wish we +had a good boat we could hire out to visitors.' + +'"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride,"' the old man said, 'or +perhaps, in the present case, they would sail. But I have not quite +enough money put by for a new boat yet.' + +'And there is little chance of making any,' Jack grumbled. + +'Well, we must just make the best of what we have got. And, you know, +Jack, I must have things ship-shape about me, and so, even if the _Mary +Jane_ has seen her best days, she can still be kept spick and span as +well as seaworthy.' + +'There would be some sense in keeping a smart little craft which looked +nice,' Jack argued, 'but this old tub is only fit for firewood.' + +'Now, look here, sonny, suppose I were to say, "It is no use for an old +fellow like me to try to look respectable. I will just have done with +brush and comb, soap and water, and go in rags, and will leave it for +the young folks to be smart and tidy?"' + +'Oh, that wouldn't do at all!' Jack said, looking at the old man, with +his jolly ruddy face and white hair. 'Granny would never allow that.' + +'And I am not going to allow my old _Mary Jane_ to be slovenly either. +But I will manage the job myself if old folks and old boats are not +worth your troubling about.' + +Now this made Jack rather ashamed of his reluctance to help, so in the +afternoon he came and worked with a will, until the old boat in her new +dress looked as if she had grown young again. + +Indeed, the fresh paint had such a smart appearance that a little girl +passing down to the beach stopped and gazed at it with admiration. + +'Look, Daddy,' she called to her father. 'Isn't it a dear little +boat? Could we have it to go for a row?' + +'It certainly looks broad and safe enough for a small girl who finds it +difficult to keep still,' was the answer, and the result was an +arrangement to hire the boat at intervals for the rest of the summer +season. + +And when the _Mary Jane_ was laid up for the winter, Jack and his +grandfather counted their earnings, and found that enough had been +gained to make up the sum wanted for a new boat. + +'That coat of paint was worth something after all,' the old man said. +'And remember, sonny, that "taut and trim" is a good motto to hold by +whether your work lies among boats or not.' + +M. H. + +[Illustration: "Jack worked with a will."] + +[Illustration: GOOD NEWS OF THE BOY.] + +[Illustration: October 21st, 1805.] + + + + +A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. + +True Tales of the Year 1805. + +VI.--THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR, OCT. 21, 1805. + + 'And since that day St. George's Cross + Has ruled the dark blue sea, + For Nelson led the windward line, + And Collingwood the lee.' + +E. H. MITCHELL. + + +It was in the early dawn of October 21st, 1805, when Nelson, pacing the +quarter-deck of the _Victory_, could distinctly make out the enemy--the +combined fleets of France and Spain. Villeneuve, the French Admiral, a +skilful seaman, had placed his ships so as to leave the port of Cadiz +open for himself, whilst bringing the British ships close to the shoals +of Trafalgar. + +Nelson, however, was confident of success, and asked Captain Blackwood +'what he should consider as a victory?' + +Blackwood, knowing the enemy to be superior both in the number of ships +and weight of guns, said he thought it would be a glorious victory if +fourteen vessels were captured. + +'I shall not, Blackwood, be satisfied with less than twenty,' was +Nelson's reply, and he ordered the fleet to anchor, and prepare for +battle. + +Then he retired to his cabin, and calmly wrote a prayer, commending +himself to God and begging for 'a glorious victory, and may no +misconduct in any one tarnish it, and may humanity after victory be a +prominent feature in the British fleet.' + +About 11 a.m. he was again on deck, and turning to Captain Blackwood he +asked him 'if there was not still a signal wanting?' Then, almost before +the captain could answer that 'he thought the whole fleet seemed +thoroughly to understand what was required of them,' Nelson had ordered +his lieutenant, Mr. Pascoe, to hoist the memorable signal: + + '_England expects that every man will do his duty._' + +This signal--Nelson's last signal--was received with hearty cheering +throughout the fleet. + +'Now,' said Nelson, 'I can do no more. We must trust to the Great +Disposer of all events, and the justice of our cause. I thank God for +this great opportunity of doing my duty.' + +There was one matter which was causing great anxiety to the officers on +board the _Victory_, and that was the conspicuousness of Nelson's dress. +He wore on the left breast of his Admiral's frock-coat, the four stars +of the different Orders with which he had been invested, and these +shining ornaments at once singled him out from his officers, and +rendered him an easy mark for the enemy's sharp-shooters. + +No one, however, dared to remonstrate with Nelson on this subject--for +on a previous occasion, when begged to change his dress, or cover his +stars, he had answered somewhat shortly: + +'In honour I gained them, and in honour I will die with them.' + +At a few minutes before mid-day the battle began, Nelson and Collingwood +each leading his line of ships, Nelson steering a little more to the +north than Collingwood in order to cut off the enemy's retreat into +Cadiz, so that the lee line under Collingwood was first engaged. + +'See!' cried Nelson, pointing to the _Royal Sovereign_, as she steered +straight for the enemy's line, 'See how that noble fellow Collingwood +carries his ship into action!' whilst Collingwood, delighted to be the +first in the heat of fire, exclaimed at the same time to his captain, +'What would Nelson give to be here!' + +Nelson, however, had not cause for long to envy Collingwood, as very +soon the _Victory_ also was in the thick of the battle. The Admiral's +secretary was shot whilst standing by his side, and shortly afterwards a +shot struck the fore-brace bits on the quarter-deck and passed between +Nelson and Hardy (his captain), tearing off his buckle and bruising his +foot. Both men looked anxiously at each other, for each thought the +other wounded, then Nelson smiled and said, 'This is too warm work, +Hardy, to last long!' + +The _Victory_ was along-side the French ship _Redoutable_, whose tops +were filled with riflemen. Suddenly a ball fired from her mizen-top, not +more than fifteen yards from where Nelson was standing, struck the +epaulette on his left shoulder, and he fell on his face on the deck. + +Hardy, but a few steps away, turned round to see three men raising the +wounded Admiral. + +'They have done for me at last, Hardy,' said Nelson. + +'I hope not,' said Hardy. + +'Yes,' he replied, 'my backbone is shot through.' + +He still, however, kept his presence of mind, and taking out his +handkerchief covered his face and his stars, so that his crew might not +be discouraged by knowing that the wounded officer being carried past to +the cock-pit was their dearly loved commander. + +'Had he but concealed those badges of honour from the enemy,' says +Southey, 'England perhaps would not have had cause to receive with +sorrow the news of the battle of Trafalgar.' + +Nelson was well aware that his wound was mortal, and at once told the +surgeon to attend to the other wounded men, who lay all about the deck +and crowded cock-pit, 'for,' said he, 'you can do nothing for me.' + +The life-blood was in fact fast ebbing away, and all that could be done +for the dying hero was to fan him with paper, and to give him lemonade +to alleviate the great thirst that always follows gun-shot wounds. + +Meanwhile, the battle raged fiercely, and even in his dying agonies +Nelson's eyes would gleam with joy when he heard the cheers of his men +as often as an enemy's ship struck. + +He now became very anxious to see Captain Hardy, but it was an hour or +more before Hardy was able to leave the quarter-deck, and hasten to +Nelson's side. He was so affected that he could only silently shake the +Admiral's hand. + +'Hardy,' said Nelson, 'how goes the day?' + +'Very well,' replied Hardy. 'Ten ships have struck, and I have no doubt +of giving them a drubbing.' + +'I hope,' said Nelson, 'none of our ships have struck?' + +'No fear of that,' answered Hardy. He had now to go again on deck, but +in an hour's time returned to the cock-pit, and congratulated the dying +commander on having gained a complete victory, fourteen or fifteen of +the enemy being taken, perhaps more, but in the confusion of the battle +it was impossible to be quite accurate. + +'That's well!' said Nelson, 'but I bargained for twenty!' + +Then a few minutes later he said in a low voice, 'Don't throw me +overboard,' and then feeling life to be all but gone, he said, 'Kiss me, +Hardy.' + +Hardy knelt down and kissed his cheek, and Nelson said, 'Now I am +satisfied! Thank God I have done my duty.' These words he kept faintly +repeating again and again until he died--just four hours and +three-quarters after he had received his wound. + +The victory of Trafalgar was complete. The fleets of France and Spain +were not merely defeated, but completely shattered, and England had no +longer any cause to dread a foreign invasion. + +But great as were the rejoicings over this victory, the death of Nelson +cast such gloom over the whole country that the rejoicings were said to +be 'without joy.' + +A fitting monument to Britain's greatest Admiral was erected some years +later in Trafalgar Square, London. A statue of Nelson, in cocked hat and +with empty right sleeve, stands towering aloft at a height of one +hundred and forty-five feet; at the base crouch Landseer's four majestic +lions, watchful as he who for so many years maintained for Britain the +supremacy of the sea. + + + + +WELCOME TO THE FIRST FIRE. + + + The north wind is sighing, + The daylight is dying, + The sun has gone down, and the night shadows fall; + But see, lightly dancing, + And peeping, and glancing, + The firelight is climbing our nursery wall. + + Then greet this new-comer + Who left us all summer, + To hide in old cinders while weather was warm; + Yet must have been near us, + For now, just to cheer us, + He comes back at once with the winter and storm. + + Oh, ruddy flames leaping, + Say, where were you sleeping? + In some land of faery where fires never die, + And wind always freezes? + Or heard you the breezes + That fanned our sweet roses through June and July? + + 'Twas spring when we parted-- + You smouldered down-hearted; + The lilacs were out, and we told you to go: + But knew, when November + Had come, you'd remember + To cheer us again with your warmth and your glow. + + + + +OLD CONDUITS. + + +Young readers are sometimes puzzled, in reading accounts of ancient +processions through city streets, at the frequent references to the +Conduits passed on the way. A conduit was a strong tower built of stone, +furnished with taps, through which water was supplied to the people. +London householders used to send their servants and apprentices, with +jugs and pails, to the conduits, to obtain water for daily use; and a +great deal of gossiping and quarrelling went on at these places. On +state occasions the conduits were decorated; and, at the coronation of +one of the queens, we read that over the conduit near Shoe Lane was +raised a turret, with figures of the four cardinal virtues; while the +taps, instead of sending out water, ran for that day with streams of +wine. Often, as a royal procession passed such places, a youth or child, +in some strange dress, would stand forth, and deliver a speech, prepared +beforehand, to the king or queen. + + + + +CLEVER BILLY. + +A True Story. + + +'Well, Lucy, how have you been getting on since I saw you last?' said +Miss Fanny Cresswell to her niece, Lucy. + +Lucy had come on a visit to her aunt's pretty cottage in the country, +and very pleased the little girl was to be there. Nevertheless, there +was a shadow on her usually bright face as she looked up. + +'We have had a great trouble at home, Aunt Fanny,' she answered. 'Our +dear old dog, Carlo, is dead. He was so clever and so good that we shall +never get another like him. Why, he even carried my basket when I went +shopping, instead of being stupid, like other animals.' + +Aunt Fanny could hardly help smiling. 'Carlo was indeed a good dog, and +I am very sorry that he is dead,' she said. 'But you must not think, my +dear, that all the other animals are stupid. My goat, Billy, is, in his +own way, as clever as Carlo, as you may see to-morrow morning--that is, +if you are up in time.' + +Lucy thought to herself that Aunt Fanny's rough goat--of whom, in her +heart, she was a little afraid--could not possibly equal poor, faithful +Carlo. But she took care to be early next morning, and very soon she +found out her aunt's meaning. + +Miss Cresswell was writing at her desk, and Mary, the maid, was busy +getting breakfast, when the postman came to the gate. + +'There is the postman with a letter,' cried Lucy. 'Shall I run and take +it, auntie?' + +'Oh, never mind!' said Aunt Fanny. 'Billy will do that.' + +[Illustration: "Billy allowed the letter to be taken."] + +Sure enough Billy trotted up to the smiling postman and received the +letter in his mouth. Once or twice he capered round Lucy, who had +followed to the gate, and then, standing quite still, he held up his +head as if proud of his achievement, and allowed the letter to be taken. + +'Good Billy,' said Lucy, as, ashamed of her former fears, she patted his +shaggy side. 'You _are_ clever. It is just as wonderful for a goat to +bring the letters as for a dog to carry a basket.' + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 319._) + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +An hour passed, and Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang were still in the +wooden collars. Charlie and Fred closed their eyes; but, as they did not +succeed in getting any sleep, after ten minutes' endeavour they gave up +the attempt, and had a short conversation in low tones. + +Ping Wang was lamenting that he had persuaded the Pages to come to +China, when they heard a shout of 'Foreigners!' and turning their eyes +in the direction from which it came they saw a European approaching. He +wore a beehive hat, but the remainder of his attire was European. + +'He is coming towards us!' Fred exclaimed, joyfully. + +'But he won't be able to set us free,' Charlie answered. + +'He is a missionary,' Ping Wang declared, 'and you may be sure that he +will do all that he possibly can to help us out of our trouble. Come +closer!' he shouted, in Chinese. 'We want to speak to you.' + +'I say,' Charlie exclaimed, 'it's Barton, the old "International!"' + +'So it is,' Fred said, delightedly, feeling certain that a resourceful +football-player, such as Barton had proved himself to be times +innumerable, would devise some means for freeing them. + +'Well,' said Barton, smiling, 'you're collared.' And Charlie and Fred +laughed. 'How did you get in this fix?' Barton continued, seriously; and +Ping Wang related in a few words how they had been arrested. 'This is +very unfortunate,' Barton declared. 'Early this morning one of our +converts saw three men make off with my colleague's horse. I reported +the theft to the Chinese officials, and urged that steps should be taken +to detect the thieves. I suppose that to save the trouble of making +inquiries they arrested you. I received information about an hour ago +that the thieves had been caught, and I came out to see if I knew the +men. Now I must hurry away, and see if I can get you set at liberty. It +will be difficult, I fear; but you may rely on my doing my best.' + +[Illustration: "The men unlocked the collars."] + +Barton hurried away, leaving the prisoners in much better spirits. +Nearly two hours passed before he returned, and they had begun to fear +that his efforts on their behalf had not been successful. + +'Barton's smiling,' Charlie whispered, as the missionary drew near. 'We +are going to be released. I should like to give old Barton a cheer. It +wouldn't be the first I have given him by many a score.' + +'Don't talk,' Ping Wang said; and in a few minutes the men who had +arrested them had unlocked the collars, and set them free. + +'Come with me,' Barton said, as they rose from their cramped position on +the ground. + +'Can you speak Chinese?' he asked the Pages, when they had walked a few +yards; and, on their replying that they only knew a few words, added, +'Then we will speak English. You need not fear that it will arouse +suspicion, for several of our native Christians have learnt English. +By-the-bye, I am sorry to have kept you waiting; the officials knew very +well that they had arrested the wrong men; but when I told them that +such was the case, they flatly contradicted me. However, after we had a +long conversation, they told me that they would set you free, but would +not arrest anybody else. I agreed to that at once, and they seemed quite +as pleased as I was at the result of my interview.' + +'We are very grateful to you----' Charlie began, but Barton stopped him. + +'My dear fellow, you have nothing to thank me for. In fact, I am the +innocent cause of the hardship you have undergone; for if I had not +complained of our horse having been stolen, you would not have been +arrested. But, I hope,' he continued, 'you have not suffered from the +wooden collars?' + +'Our necks have. Mine is horribly stiff.' + +'We can remedy that with embrocation. When we reach our house--we shall +soon be there--you had better have a bath at once.' + +The Pages and Ping Wang were very pleased when they reached the mission +station, and were able to indulge in the luxury of a warm bath. Having +bathed, rubbed their necks with embrocation, and well shaken their +clothes, they strolled out on to the verandah, where Barton was waiting +for them. He led the way along the verandah, which ran the length of the +building, and turned into a large, airy, plainly furnished dining-room. +At the head of the table sat the senior missionary--a man of about fifty +years of age--and facing him was his wife. An elderly lady and a young +man were the other missionaries, and there were also at the table the +four children of the senior missionary. + +After dinner they all went out on the verandah, and there Charlie, by +request, told his new friends why he and Fred were in Su-ching disguised +as Chinamen. + +The senior missionary strongly advised the Pages and Ping Wang to give +up their journey, declaring that if they persisted they would probably +meet with worse punishment than the wooden collar. + +'But the jewels belong to me,' Ping Wang declared. + +'I do not doubt it, but nevertheless, Chin Choo would regard you as a +common thief. Why not ask him to return the idol to you?' + +'That would make him think it was more valuable than he had supposed. +Moreover, he has threatened to kill me if ever he has the opportunity.' + +'Then why give him an opportunity?' + +'I do not mean to. We will wait at Kwang-ngan until we get a chance of +regaining the idol without being found out.' + +A little later Ping Wang's cousin arrived at the missionary's house, and +was able to give the travellers some valuable information. He had paid a +visit to Kwang-ngan during the previous week, and had seen Chin Choo on +several occasions. One evening as he passed Chin Choo's house, he +saw--the gate being open--the idol which the mandarin had stolen from +Ping Wang's father, standing in the front room nearest the road. + +To discover the room in which Chin Choo kept his stolen idol, Ping Wang +had considered the most difficult part of their undertaking, and now +that the information had been obtained without any exertion on their +part, he felt surer than ever that the jewels would soon be in their +possession. + +'Our friends are tired,' the senior missionary said to his colleagues, +about two hours after dinner, 'so we will have the evening service at +once.' + +The gong was sounded, and soon the native English-speaking servants +filed into the big room in which the Europeans were assembled. It was +long since the Pages had worshipped among their own people, and as they +listened to the prayers, and joined in the evening hymn, they felt that +this was one of the most peaceful half hours they had ever experienced; +and before rising from their knees, they thanked God, silently but +earnestly, for having brought them safely through so many dangers. Then, +bidding good-night to their kind hosts, they retired to the large +three-bedded room which had been placed at their disposal. + +It was their intention to resume their journey early the following +morning; but a few hours after they had turned in, Charlie and Fred were +awakened by hearing Ping Wang groaning. + +Jumping out of bed they lighted the lamp and looked anxiously at their +friend. + +'What's the matter, old boy?' Charlie asked, but Ping Wang evidently did +not hear. + +'He's unconscious,' Fred said. 'Call Barton, for he knows more about +fever than I do.' + +Fred soon saw that he had acted wisely in sending for Barton, as the +missionary thoroughly understood what it was necessary to do in such +cases. + +For an hour or so there was, however, no improvement in the patient's +condition, and Barton decided to sit up with him. + +'No,' Fred said, 'let me sit up. I'm a medical student, and it's my +right to look after the patient.' + +'Medical students have plenty of pluck, I know,' Barton replied, with a +smile, 'but they cannot defy nature with impunity. You are completely +fagged out, and if you don't turn in at once I shall have two patients +to-morrow instead of one.' + +Charlie and Fred were soon sound asleep, and it was not until nine +o'clock in the morning that Fred awoke. He relieved Barton at once, and +the missionary went away to get a brief rest. + +About an hour after Barton had gone out, Ping Wang awoke, and, to the +delight of his two friends, spoke rationally. They forbade him, however, +to talk, and told him that the quieter he kept, the quicker would be his +recovery. He was an excellent patient, and the result of his obedience +was that, in three days, he was able to leave his bed. But his illness +left him very weak, and Barton and Fred agreed that it would be +dangerous for him to attempt to proceed to Kwang-ngan until a fortnight +had elapsed. This prolonged delay was, of course, a disappointment to +the three travellers, but they enjoyed their stay immensely. When Ping +Wang became strong enough to leave the verandah, Barton took him and the +Pages to see his Chinese school. It was a most novel sight; but what +pleased the Pages most was to find that Barton was as popular with his +Chinese pupils as he had been, a few years previously, with thousands of +English schoolboys. + +(_Continued on page 334._) + + + + +THE HIDDEN ROOM. + + +'Dreaming again, Millicent, and your hands folded in your lap! Your +father would have to go without shirts if it were left to you!' + +Millicent Basset started up from the pleasant rose-covered wall where +she had been sitting, and her fair face flushed at her aunt's sharp +words. + +'Indeed, Aunt Deborah, I am very sorry; but the news from Newbury has +driven all other thoughts from my mind. I was wishing I could have been +with Antony and Father, instead of being left at home doing nothing +while they are fighting.' + +'There is no call for you to do nothing,' replied Aunt Deborah dryly, +'while work lies ready to your hand. Take your seam indoors to your +chamber, and stir not from it till supper-time. I am going to the +village to see the smith's son; I hear he was sore hurt in the fight.' + +Millicent rose with a sigh, and carried her work to her room as she was +bidden. She turned her back resolutely to the window, and set to work to +make up for lost time. A quaint picture she made in the low oak-panelled +room, in her grey dress and white kerchief--for her father, Sir James +Basset, was a staunch Roundhead, and so was Dame Deborah, his sister, +who had ruled his household since the death of his wife. + +These were stirring times. The civil war between the Roundheads and +Charles I. was at its height, and two days before, the sound of guns had +been distinctly heard at Wootton Basset, for a battle had been fought at +Newbury, and night had fallen before either side could claim the +victory. Sir James Basset and his son had both been fighting, but had +escaped unhurt, and had gone on with the Parliamentary army to London, +finding means, however, to send a message home about their safety. + +Aunt Deborah, with the calmness of a strong nature, after assembling the +family to return thanks for the good news, went quietly on with her +usual duties, expecting every one else to do the same; but to Millicent +this seemed impossible. How could she be expected to sit and stitch +wristbands, when, only six miles away, the sun, shining so quietly in at +the window, was looking down on the battlefield? 'Oh, if I had only been +a man,' she cried, 'to ride forth instead of being left here!' + +Hardly had the words crossed her lips before one of the panels in a +dark corner of the room flew back, revealing to her startled eyes a tall +youth, whose long curls and the dainty lace ruffles on his torn and +stained shirt proved him to be one of those young Cavaliers whom +Millicent had often wished to know, but who to Aunt Deborah represented +all that was lawless and wicked. She started to her feet in terror. At +that moment the presence of her aunt, or even of one of the babies, as +she called her nine-year-old twin sisters, would have been a comfort; +but the stranger's voice reassured her. + +'Am I speaking to Mistress Millicent Basset?' he asked with a low bow, +which brought the colour to Millicent's face, for few people spoke to +her as if she were grown up. + +'Yes, I am Millicent Basset, at your service,' she answered. Then, +plucking up her courage, she added, 'How did you come here, and what +right have you to take the panel out of the wall?' + +A smile passed across the young soldier's face. 'Bravely asked,' he +said, 'and easily answered had I time; but I must show you something +first. Do you recognise that?' and, stepping forward, he laid something +on the table beside her. + +At that moment hurrying feet and shrill voices were heard in the +passage. It was the twins. Happily in their eagerness they paused for a +moment, disputing which should open the door. Then a strange thing +happened. Millicent had turned from the stranger for a moment as the +children fumbled at the lock; and when she turned her head again he had +vanished, and the panelled wall looked exactly as it had always done. +All that remained to prove that she had not been dreaming was the little +packet he had placed on the table. + +Millicent quickly placed her sewing on the packet and swept it into her +lap before she listened to what the excited little girls had to say. + +'See, sister,' cried Alison, holding out her apron to show six little +fluffy chickens, 'what my speckled hen has hatched, all unknown to any +one. We do not know where to put them. Will you come out and choose a +place for them?' + +'Nay, children, that I cannot do, for I promised Aunt Deborah to stay +here and sew; but I can show you a place from the window. The old +dog-kennel yonder would be a good house for the hen and her brood, and +you can watch for Aunt Deborah and let her see them when she returns. +Run away now, like good little maidens; the chicks will soon grow cold +without their mother, and I have this long seam to stitch before +supper.' + +The children ran off well pleased, and Millicent was left alone, feeling +safe from interruption, for she knew she would be warned of Aunt +Deborah's approach by their excited voices. When the door closed behind +them, she went softly to it and drew the bolt. Then she took up the +mysterious little parcel, and was greatly surprised to find it was a +little Testament which belonged to her brother Antony, which he always +carried in his pocket. To make sure she opened it, and there on the +fly-leaf was his name, 'Antony, from Millicent,' and beneath was written +as if in haste: 'I send this by the hand of Ralph de Foulkes; help him +as he helped me.' + +(_Continued on page 330._) + +[Illustration: "'See what my speckled hen has hatched.'"] + +[Illustration: "'I got these easily from the cellar.'"] + + + + +THE HIDDEN ROOM. + +(_Continued from page 327._) + + +Millicent sprang to her feet. For the last six months she had added this +name to her prayers, for its unknown owner had saved the life of her +brother at the battle of Hopton Heath, when his side had been routed, +and he--his horse killed under him, and a terrible sword-cut in his +arm--had hidden in a little copse, hardly expecting to escape being +caught and hung as a rebel. + +'He was a slight young fellow, like a girl, with a laughing face and +yellow locks hanging on his shoulders. His name was Foulkes, but more +than that I had no time to ask or he to answer; had it not been for him +I had scarce hoped to see you again, sister,' Antony had said in answer +to her eager questions as to what the young man was like; and she had +treasured up the description in her heart. And now here he was at her +side, for no sooner was she seated than the panel flew back and he +stepped into the room. + +She held out the little book. 'You are Ralph de Foulkes,' she said, 'and +Antony sent you; but I do not know how you have got behind the woodwork, +or how you dare come to this house--you, a Royalist! If Aunt Deborah +knew!' + +Again a smile crossed the young man's face. 'Nay,' he answered, 'but +Aunt Deborah must not know. I trust to you, Mistress Millicent; your +brother said you would help us.' + +'Us!' repeated Millicent in surprise; 'is there then another?--where is +he?' + +'You know not the secrets of your own house,' answered De Foulkes, and, +stepping back, he showed her that a few steps led from the secret door +to a small, narrow room, lit only by a grating far up in the wall. It +was barely furnished and evidently meant for a hiding-place, as a door +at the further end pointed to another way of escape. + +She followed her guide down the steps, and when her eyes became +accustomed to the gloom, she saw an elderly man, wrapped in torn and +stained garments, lying asleep on a low bed in the corner. + +''Tis my father,' whispered Ralph; 'he was wounded in the thigh by a +ball at Newbury; but I got him on his horse and set off in the darkness, +hoping to reach Oxford somehow. But we had gone but eight miles when he +fainted and fell from his horse. Some one was riding up behind, and +careless whether it were friend or foe so long as I found help, I cried +out. It was your brother, and he, in gratitude for some slight service +which I did him months ago, held the horse while I lifted my father up, +and then guided us to the entrance to that passage,' pointing to the +door in the corner; ''tis in an old tower a mile hence, and so we +brought him here.' + +'Antony brought him! Antony here, and did not tell me?' cried Millicent +hastily. + +'He had no time; in truth he laid himself open to suspicion by loitering +so long. But see! my father wakes,' and he hurried forward as the old +man raised himself on his arm and gazed round. + +'Water,' he muttered; 'water, Ralph! I feel weak,' and he fell back +again unconscious. + +'He has had no food since he left the field, and my water-flagon is +long since empty,' explained Ralph. 'I thought that mayhap you could get +us some food in the night when the household is quiet, for I too am +well-nigh famished.' + +'Famished!' cried Millicent impetuously; 'I should think so. I shall go +and get some food this very moment.' + +'But stay!' said her companion hastily; 'we are safe so far, but a +little want of caution would ruin all; rather wait than be discovered.' + +'Antony said you could trust me,' she said proudly, and she vanished +through the panel, shutting it carefully behind her, leaving Ralph +wondering if he had done rightly in trusting his secret to this +impulsive young girl. There was something in her face, however, which +gave him confidence. + +It seemed a long time before he heard a little tap on the wood, and, +drawing back the door, he found her standing with her arms full. In one +hand she held a glass of milk, while under her arm was a flagon, and in +her apron was a large loaf of bread, with some cups and a knife. + +'I got these easily from the cellar,' she said, 'but I could not bring +any meat, for old Joan was in the buttery; I must get that at night.' + +To Ralph, faint with hunger, what she had brought was food fit for a +king, and he began to feed his father while Millicent slipped away to +her room again. + +That night, when every one was asleep, Millicent went up and down the +house without her shoes, flitting about like a ghost from place to +place, taking things here and there which she did not think would be +missed. Some blankets from the great chest in the gallery, a pair of +sheets, an old shirt of Antony's, some soft rags, a good supply of +provisions--anything, in short, that she thought would be of use to the +two occupants of the hidden room, for she knew that she must not visit +them too often, in case her secret was discovered. When she had +collected them in a heap behind the panel, she tapped lightly on the +wood and Ralph came. The tears came into his eyes when he saw the +comforts which she had gathered together. + +'May Heaven reward you,' he said, 'for I cannot.' + +'Nay,' answered Millicent, ''tis but little to thank me for, as you will +find if you have an appetite like Antony; for there were only one round +of beef and two pasties in the buttery, and I dare not take too much for +fear Martha the cook should notice in the morning; and I must not come +again till to-morrow night, but then I will bring a few eggs--they will +nourish your father.' + +And with a sigh of relief Millicent saw him disappear with the things; +and she went to sleep thinking that after all it would not be so +difficult to provide the strangers with food until the old knight was +able to travel, and no one would ever find out. + +Alas! her troubles were just beginning, for next evening, while she was +waiting in her room until it was safe to carry food to the fugitives, a +small stone came sharply against the window, and, looking out, she saw a +dark figure standing in the shadow of the great yew-tree. + +'Who is there?' she cried softly. + +''Tis I, Mistress,' said the figure, moving close up to the window. It +was Mark Field, Antony's own man and foster-brother. + +'What brings you here, Mark? Has aught befallen Antony?' she asked in +haste. + +'Nay, the young master is well and safe in London, Mistress Millicent, +but he bade me carry this note to you and to deliver it into none other +hands but yours. It is of importance, for he bade me ride like the wind +and spare not my steed, and I was to tell no man I was here, or wait for +an answer, but just give it to thee, get a fresh nag from the stable and +hasten back to London, so that no man might mark my absence; so +good-night, Mistress,' and the honest fellow handed up the paper to +Millicent and vanished in the darkness. + +She opened it and read: 'Dearest,--Rumours have got abroad that Sir +Denvil de Foulkes and his son are harbouring near Basset Court. Our +father knows nought of the matter, and is anxious that troopers be sent +to watch the district. They will live at the Court and doubtless search +the house. Set your wits to work, for my honour is at stake. I would +fain have those two escape. The younger had better depart; his +appearance with the King's force would remove suspicion. For the other +you must do your best.--ANTONY.' + +Millicent sat still for a long time. The danger was great, but her +courage rose to meet it. If she could prevent it, no harm would come to +the helpless old man in the secret room; neither would the disgrace of +having harboured an enemy fall on her father. No one, so far as she +knew, knew aught of the hidden room. If the soldiers could be kept from +discovering that, all might be well. There seemed only one way to +prevent them doing so. If she were ill and in bed while they were in the +house, they would not search her room too narrowly. + +But her conscience told her that she must really be ill, not pretend; +and she gave a shiver as she thought of a mixture of mustard-and-water +which Aunt Deborah had administered to Marjorie once when she mistook +laburnum-pods for peas. She remembered how ill the child was afterwards, +and she thought if she could make herself as ill as that, there would be +no deceit in saying she could not get up. + +Having come to this decision she rose, and tapping on the panel, she was +soon talking over the situation with Ralph and his father, whose wound +was healing, although he was not yet able to walk. When he heard the +contents of the letter he was anxious to give himself up, rather than +bring disgrace and danger on the house which had sheltered him; but this +Millicent would not hear of. + +Ralph at once began his preparations for his departure, as he felt that +Antony's advice was good, and that if once he were known to have joined +the King at Oxford the search for his father might be given up. Oxford +was only some thirty miles distant, and if he started at once he would +not be far from it at daybreak. + +Millicent's heart felt heavy when, after bidding her a courteous adieu +and embracing his father, he vanished along the dark passage which led +to the opening in the woods. She wondered if she would ever meet him +again. She a Puritan, he a Cavalier--their lots seemed to lie so far +apart. + +Before the thought had passed he was back in the room again. 'The way is +blocked,' he said; 'the rains have loosened the soil, and there has been +a heavy fall of earth. 'Tis so much the better for you, father; even had +the soldiers not discovered the door in the wainscot, they might have +found the other entrance in the woods. The question is, how am I to get +out?' + +'You must get out through my window,' said Millicent; ''tis not far from +the ground, and there is the apple-tree.' + +Ralph did not speak as he followed her up the steps and through the room +to where the casement-window stood half open, but he turned before he +swung himself over the sill. + +'Hitherto have I dreamt of no fair lady save my mother,' he said; 'she +had ever been my guardian angel. Now your face will mingle with hers in +my memory, and your name with hers in my prayers. These are troublous +times, but if I live I will see you again some time, and meanwhile, as a +remembrance, may I have these?' and he touched a bunch of yellow roses +which she wore in her belt. + +Hardly knowing what she did, she placed them in his hand, and a moment +afterwards she was alone. She stood a long time where he left her; then +awaking from her reverie, she went to the buttery, where she mixed and +drank her nauseous draught. Then she went back to her room, and for the +next few hours she felt as ill and miserable as any one could be. + +(_Concluded on page 338._) + + + + +THE RABBIT AND THE HARE. + + + 'I've been to town,' a Rabbit said, + 'O sleepy Mr. Hare, + And if you don't get out of bed + You'll miss the market there.' + + 'How mean of you!' the other whined; + 'You've bought the best, I see, + And in the market I shall find + The worst is left for me.' + + The Rabbit mutely turned away + From language so unfair; + He trotted home, and from that day + He shunned the lazy Hare. + + 'For this,' said he, 'is plain to me, + All lazy folk are prone + To blame their friends, and never see + The fault is theirs alone.' + + + + +A MOTOR-CAR OF THE PAST. + + +Motorists have cause to be thankful they live in a good-natured age. Of +course, they are often blamed for accidents, not always deservedly; but +had they lived in the early part of the nineteenth century, they would +have been much worse off. About that time, several persons constructed +steam carriages, meant to run upon ordinary roads; the popular anger, +however, was so great that they had to give up running them. Nearly +every town and village greeted them with jeers and hostile cries, with +occasional presents of brickbats or stones, and it happened more than +once that a furious mob attacked a party, and tried to break the machine +to pieces. + +[Illustration: An Old-fashioned Motor-car.] + +Mr. Gurney was a notable contriver of such carriages. He had several, of +different styles, and probably the most remarkable of his experiments +was the making of one with a divided boiler, to relieve the fears which +were common then amongst people to whom steam was a novelty, and who +fancied that a boiler was in great danger of bursting from the pressure +of the steam. Some folk said that Mr. Gurney, who was a doctor, took the +idea of his peculiar boiler from the arteries and veins of the human +body; at any rate, he had a double arrangement of pipes, taking the form +of a horseshoe, and made of welded iron. There were forty pipes, so that +if one burst it could only do a trifling amount of harm, and the damage +was easily repaired. The principle was that of the 'water-tube' boilers +of the present day. Mr. Gurney had also what he called 'separators,' +which returned to the boiler any water that was not needed in the pipes. +A tank supplied water to the boiler by means of a pump with a flexible +hose; coke or charcoal was burnt in the furnace, so that there was very +little smoke, and the machinery moved almost noiselessly. It was +reckoned to be about twelve horse-power, and travelled at any rate +between four and fifteen miles an hour. Inside and outside the vehicle +eighteen or twenty persons could be seated; the guide or conductor sat +in front, and steered the machine by pilot-wheels fastened to a pole, +which went from end to end of the carriage. He had also under his +management a lever which would stop the carriage speedily, and another +to reverse the action of the wheels. The tank, containing about sixty +gallons, and the furnace were placed in what they called the hind boot; +the fore boot contained luggage, if any was carried. Another of Mr. +Gurney's special contrivances was a propeller fixed at the back of the +carriage; it could be made to touch the ground when travelling up a +hill, assisting the steam-power. A few experimental trips were made, but +the carriage was not brought into general use. + +J. R. S. C. + + + + +WONDERFUL CAVERNS. + +X.--THE CLIFF-DWELLERS OF NORTH AMERICA. + + +One of the tribes which at a very early date sought refuge in cliff +caverns is supposed to have been that of the Pueblo Indians of the Mesa +Verde in Colorado, whose descendants, though not cave-dwellers, are +still found in New Mexico. From the proofs of partial civilisation found +in their deserted homes, we may believe them to have been more refined +and gentler than the savage Apaches and similar fighting tribes who +overcame them, and drove them out to find fresh abiding-places. + +[Illustration: Cliff-dwelling, New Mexico, and Cave-pottery (British +Museum).] + +Their caves are generally built in with masonry, and had queer-shaped +windows here and there; the floors were smoothed and covered with red +clay beaten hard, whilst occasionally the walls received coats of fine +red and yellow plaster, with stripes of darker colours. The larger caves +were divided into several rooms, and in many there was an 'Estufa,' or +specially warm, dry apartment. The 'Estufa' was always round in form, +and is supposed to have been used for religious purposes. It was +probably a sort of private chapel for one or more families, and the +round shape was most likely a survival of the old round huts or wigwams +wherein their ancestors had dwelt in the old days. Most of these +cave-houses are of rough workmanship, but here and there, especially in +one known as the Cliff Palace, the blocks of stone have been carefully +hewn and put together. + +The condition of early races may be largely judged by the pottery they +used, and the Pueblo Indians have left really beautiful specimens of +this ancient craft. The bowls are often of a fine red, with white +patterns outside, and black and red designs inside. The lamps found are +of a curious boat-shaped form, and hold quite a lot of oil. Mummies have +been discovered perfectly preserved in their rock places of burial, each +wrapped in cloth made entirely of feathers. + +Besides their cliff homes, the Pueblos, though probably much later, had +another form of settlement, building huge villages on the top of a steep +rock, surrounded with precipices all but inaccessible. The walls of the +houses were sometimes of stone, sometimes of bricks dried in the sun, or +more often of 'adobe,' or in common English, 'mud.' The Indians were +careful to choose a rock on which a spring of water rose, round which +the dwellings clustered. Here, safe in their fortress homes, with a +plentiful supply of provisions, the Pueblos might defy their enemies +below. + +Many, both of these rock and cave dwellings, were 'Community houses,' in +which a number of families lived, each owning one or more rooms, very +much after the fashion in which people now-a-days occupy flats in London +and New York. Probably the finest of these combinations of rock and +masonry is that near Beaver Creek in New Mexico, known as Montezuma's +Castle. The foundations of masonry let into the solid rock begin eighty +feet above the valley, and the building is about fifty feet high. It is +in the form of a crescent, and parts of it have five stories, though the +top one cannot be seen from below, as it is close under the roof of the +cavern. + +The owners of these top rooms would have had a dull time but for the +projecting roof of number four story, which served them for a balcony +and general look-out. The building has twenty-five rooms of masonry, +besides many rock chambers at the sides and below the castle. The timber +of the houses is still sound, and the rafters which project outside the +walls have the ends burnt off instead of sawn, whilst many of the roofs, +both of mud and thatch, are still perfect. + +The building overhangs the canyon, and to reach it ladders were placed +from one shelf of rock to another, all sloping outwards--just the wrong +way for safety; and yet up these giddy stairways not only all supplies +of food, but the solid materials for building this immense structure, +had to be carried. + +HELENA HEATH. + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 327._) + +CHAPTER XV. + + +Ping Wang recovered fairly quickly, and it was early one morning, nearly +a fortnight after he had been taken ill, when, having bidden farewell to +their kind hosts, the three friends passed out of the town, and began +their six-mile journey along the muddy track which led to Kwang-ngan. + +Before they had gone far they found a cart stuck in the mud. The owner +and his wife--the latter looking very comical with her tiny crippled +feet and black trousers--stood helplessly beside it. + +'Noble brothers,' the man called out to the approaching travellers, +'your dog of a servant implores you to assist him to move his cart.' + +'He wants us to help him get his cart out of that hole,' Ping Wang said +to the Pages, in an undertone. 'Shall we?' + +'Certainly,' Charlie answered. + +Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang walked up to the cart, and putting forth +all their strength moved it, at the first attempt, out of the rut in +which it had stuck. The Chinaman thanked them profusely for their help. +His wife said nothing, but stared at Charlie in a way that made him feel +quite uncomfortable. He was much relieved when, in obedience to her +husband's call to come and take her seat, she toddled off towards the +vehicle. + +'It's a wonder,' Charlie whispered to Fred, 'that she doesn't fall on +her nose. If she did it would not spoil it, for it's flat already. +Hallo, what's Ping Wang saying to the old man?' + +In a few moments they knew. Ping Wang came over to them, and said, +quietly, 'These people are on their way to Kwang-ngan, and they will +drive us there for one hundred cash.' + +A cash is a copper coin with a square hole in the middle. Its value is +about a fifth of an English farthing. These coins are carried strung +together, and their value being so small a man can have a heavy load of +coppers without being even moderately rich. + +'It's cheap,' Fred answered. 'Let us accept.' + +Ping Wang therefore informed his noble brother that the sons of dogs +would have the pleasure of riding in his magnificent carriage. Before +they had travelled far the Pages came to the conclusion that the ride +was by no means a cheap one, and that instead of paying to ride they +ought to have been paid, so frequently were they called upon to pull or +push the cart out of some rut in which it stuck fast. They felt that the +wily old Chinaman had made a very good bargain, and if they had been +able to speak Chinese they would have told him so. Charlie, however, +disliked the woman much more than he did her husband. She stared at him +almost continuously while they were on the cart, and when he was in the +road helping to get the vehicle out of a rut, he could see her still +peeping out at him. When the cart had stuck in the mud for the tenth +time in half an hour, Charlie whispered to Fred, as they were +extricating it, 'I have had enough of this. Let's walk.' + +Fred nodded his head, and then told Ping Wang their decision. Ping Wang +was as ready as they to get away from the cart, and when it had been +pushed and pulled out of the rut he informed the cart-owner that they +were about to leave him. + +'Noble brother,' he said, 'if your dogs of servants walk, your +magnificent carriage will be lighter, and not stick in the mud so +frequently.' + +'Noble brother,' the cart-owner answered, with a savage expression on +his face, which proved that he considered Ping Wang far from being +noble, 'you will not forget that you promised to pay your humble slave +one hundred cash.' + +Ping Wang paid the cart-owner. But when the woman saw that the money was +safe in her husband's wallet, she stretched forth her hand, seized +Charlie's pigtail, and tugged at it with all her strength. + +'Foreigner!' she screamed as she fell backwards in the cart with the +pigtail, and skull-cap attached, in her hand. + +'Foreigners!' the man shouted, on seeing Charlie's unmistakably European +head--for his beehive had fallen off--and, seizing Ping Wang's pigtail +with both hands, pulled it with tremendous force. + +Ping Wang shouted with pain, but the cart-owner being convinced that if +he pulled hard enough the pigtail would come off, tugged still more +vigorously. + +In great pain Ping Wang suddenly turned right about, and, before the +cart-owner had time to move, seized his own pigtail with his mouth, +about an inch from his tormentor's hands, and held it tight between his +teeth. The cart-owner continued to tug viciously, but Ping Wang struck +him several blows on the face with his fist, and finally compelled him +to release his hold. + +In the meanwhile Charlie had climbed into the cart, and was struggling +with the Chinese woman to regain his pigtail. At first he thought that +she was sitting on it, but when he pulled her up, he found he had been +mistaken. + +'Foreigner! Foreigner!' she screamed as he searched about the cart, and +frequently she struck him with her open hands. + +'If you won't keep quiet, madam,' Charlie said, 'I shall have to put you +out.' + +He caught hold of her with the intention of lifting her out, so that he +might search the cart undisturbed. But the moment that he touched her +she screamed frantically. Her husband was too busy holding his bruised +face to heed her, but Ping Wang went at once to see what was happening, +and finding that Charlie was lifting her bodily, shouted, 'Put her down, +Charlie. Don't touch her!' + +'But she has hidden my pigtail,' Charlie protested. + +'Never mind. Don't touch her again, for it's a terrible insult to a +Chinese woman to lay hands on her. Put her down and jump out.' + +Charlie put the woman down, jumped out of the cart, and picked up his +'beehive,' but he was very indignant at having been robbed of his +pigtail. To stop the cartman from following them, he caught hold of the +horse, and led it into the thickest mud, where the wheels sank in almost +to the axle. + +They started off at a trot immediately, the Chinaman and his wife +yelling after them insulting remarks. Fortunately there was no one +about just then, and the three travellers were out of sight before the +cartman and his wife had an opportunity of telling any one about the +foreigners whom they had seen disguised as Chinamen. + +When they had run for about a quarter of a mile, they began to walk, and +discussed what should be done to hide the loss of Charlie's pigtail. + +'To start with,' Fred said, 'we had better take off our goggles now.' + +'If you can hide the loss until we get to Kwang-ngan,' said Ping Wang, +'I will buy you a new one. Put your "beehive" on the back of your head.' + +Charlie did so, but as he was without a skull-cap, his European forehead +was most noticeable. + +'That will never do,' Ping Wang declared. 'Put your beehive as it was +before. We will walk in single file; I in front of you, and Fred behind +you.' + +In that order they had walked for nearly two miles, when a man, passing +in the opposite direction, mistook Fred for an acquaintance. He stopped +short, and shook his own hands. Fred knew that the Chinese, when they +meet a friend, instead of shaking his hand, shake their own. Wishing to +be polite, he shook his own hands in reply. + +Then the Chinaman made some remark. Fortunately Ping Wang, having been +nudged by Charlie, turned round, and seeing Fred being addressed by a +Chinaman, explained that Fred was a man of weak intellect. The Chinaman +was astonished, but having satisfied himself that Fred was not the man +he had fancied, went on his way, turning round, however, after walking a +few yards, to have a look at the three friends. Then he noticed that +Charlie had no pigtail, and immediately shouted jeering remarks at him. + +Ping Wang told the Pages what the man had said, and they agreed that it +would be unwise for Charlie to enter Kwang-ngan as he was. + +'I will leave you outside the city,' Ping Wang said, 'and come back to +you as soon as I have bought a new queue.' + +'But suppose somebody speaks to us?' + +They were wondering what would be best, when Fred seized Ping Wang by +the arm, and pointed to a spot some two hundred yards away from them. + +'Are they human heads?' he gasped. + +'They are,' Ping Wang answered gravely, and when they had gone a little +nearer, all three could see clearly the heads of six Chinamen hanging by +their pigtails from six tall canes. + +'I have an idea,' Fred said. 'I do not like the notion, but we are in a +difficulty, and as we _must_ have another pigtail, I think we need not +have any scruples about cutting off one of these.' + +'I don't like it,' said Charlie. + +'But it will be a great pity, and it may be dangerous too, if we miss +this opportunity,' Ping Wang declared. 'By taking one of these pigtails +we shall lessen the risk of being found out.' + +'Very well, then,' Charlie said, 'I will wear the pigtail. Let us get it +and be off as soon as possible.' + +'We must not try to get it until after dark,' Ping Wang replied. 'We +must hide until then.' + +(_Continued on page 342._) + +[Illustration: "Ping Wang seized his own pigtail with his mouth."] + +[Illustration: "'I will add this too, lady,' said the pedlar."] + + + + +THE HIDDEN ROOM. + +(_Concluded from page 331._) + + +It was scarce seven o'clock, and Aunt Deborah was busy in the dairy, +when a clatter of hoofs was heard in the court-yard, and, looking out, +she saw half-a-dozen troopers sitting stern and straight on their +horses, while their leader handed a note to Joan, which was speedily +brought to her. It was from her brother, telling her to give the men +board and lodging and to aid them in every way in their search for Sir +Denzil. 'There is a rumour,' he wrote, 'that he is hidden about the +Court, which is absurd.' (How had he forgotten the secret chamber? This +question puzzled Millicent in after years, but it was never answered.) + +Aunt Deborah went to give orders for the men's comfort, sending little +Marjorie to call Millicent down to help; but the child came back with a +grave face and the unlooked-for news that Millicent was so ill she could +not rise. + +Aunt Deborah was kindness itself when any one was really ill, and she +hurried off at once to see what was the matter. + +Millicent's flushed face and heavy eyes were enough to rouse her +sympathy. 'You have taken a chill, child, dreaming in the garden; the +wind was keen though the sun was hot. 'Tis a pity just when these men +will want to go through the house; but there is nothing to hide from any +one here. You must lie still for a day or two, and Joan shall send you +up some soup and cooling drink.' + +So Millicent lay still all that day, her heart beating quickly at every +sound, while the sergeant in charge went leisurely over the house, +tapping the wall here and the floor there, and even glancing casually, +chaperoned by Aunt Deborah, round her room, while his men scoured the +country round without success. + +Indeed, she was in such a state of excitement that her hot hands and +bright eyes made Aunt Deborah think herself right about the chill, and +keep her in bed for four days. + +Millicent felt rather a hypocrite when the twins, in much concern, +brought her up nice things to eat, which she, in her turn, secretly +carried to the old knight, who was now recovering fast; while she +sallied forth in the dark to the buttery to get more substantial fare +for her own healthy appetite. + +By the time Aunt Deborah pronounced her well enough to be up, the house +was once more quiet, the soldiers having been recalled to London. + +More than two weeks passed, and the days were growing cold, for it was +now October, when one afternoon Millicent was walking up and down the +garden in deep perplexity. Sir Denzil was now able to walk about his +little cell, and he was very anxious to set out to join his friends; but +he was still very lame, and she saw clearly that even if he got safely +out of the house, he was almost sure to be recognised and captured +before he reached Oxford. Moreover, her father had had a touch of ague, +and was coming home that very night. Aunt Deborah had gone to Reading +with the family coach to meet him, and she knew she could not keep the +secret long from him. What was to be done? Plan after plan rose in her +mind, only to be thrown aside. + +She was roused by the sound of voices, and going into the court-yard, +she found all the maids and her little sisters gathered round a pedlar, +who was showing off his wares to them. + +Millicent was as fond of pretty things as any girl of her age, and soon +forgot her troubles in turning over the piles of ribbons and lace laid +out before her. She chose some ribbons, some lace, and a few trinkets. + +'I will add this too, lady,' said the pedlar as he handed her the goods, +laying a faded yellow rosebud on the top; 'it once was sweet, and the +perfume lingers long.' + +Millicent gazed thoughtfully at the pedlar, and he met her eyes with a +meaning look. + +''Tis growing dusk, good man,' she said carelessly, 'and the court-yard +gates will soon be shut, so I advise you to take the straight road +through the park if you would be at the village ere dark. Come, +children, we will go indoors out of the cold,' and she turned away. + +But having once got rid of the little girls and gained the privacy of +her own room, she hastily fastened the bolt; then drawing a dark cloak +round her, she got out through the window, and by the aid of the +apple-tree easily reached the ground. A few minutes more and she had +overtaken the pedlar, who was walking slowly through the park. + +'You carry more than a rosebud in your basket, good man,' she said +cautiously. + +'That do I, lady,' he answered; 'but mayhap we could talk more safely +under these trees.' + +Then when they were out of sight of any passer-by he went on: 'I am +Jasper Pope at your service, Sir Denzil de Foulke's own man, and I have +in my basket such a disguise as would puzzle his dearest friend, that of +a pedlar's wife. Also there is a packet for you, lady; you will find it +at the bottom. I could not see you sooner. I have been selling my wares +in the village for a day or two, but durst not venture near the Court +until I heard the old madame was absent.' + +The basket seemed a light weight to Millicent, as she carried it back to +the house, for now she saw the end of her difficulties. She had some +trouble getting it up to the window, but after that all was easy. The +children were in bed and the servants lingering over their supper, and +the back-stairs so far away that no one noticed the stealthy footsteps +as Sir Denzil crept down them in his strange attire. + +Little did Sir David Basset or Dame Deborah dream that the lame +pedlar-woman, in the lilac print dress and white mob-cap, whom they +passed in the park, and who curtsied so low as the great coach lumbered +past, was the Royalist leader whom everyone was searching for; neither +did they dream that Millicent, who was waiting so demurely on the steps +to receive them, wore under her smooth white kerchief a little crystal +heart hung from a slender gold chain, which she had found in a packet, +addressed to her, in the bottom of the pedlar's basket. + +More than eleven long years came and went. Charles I. was beheaded, +Cromwell ruled and died, and at last, one bright May day, Charles II. +was brought back to his father's throne. + +Many changes had taken place at Basset Court. Old Sir David was dead, +and his son, Sir Antony, reigned in his stead. Antony and his young wife +had gone up to London to see the merry-makings, but Millicent preferred +to stay at home; and she is walking up and down the rose-garden this +sunny evening, waiting for the return of the travellers. + +All these years Ralph de Foulkes had been in France with the King, and +all these years she had waited. Would Antony have seen him in London? +Would he remember? Hark! there is the sound of wheels, and the great +coach lumbers into the courtyard. She turns to welcome Antony and his +wife, but she sees instead a tall, strong man, with a sunny smile on his +face, and a few withered roses in his hand. + + + + +PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS. + +15.--LADDER PUZZLE. + + +Take the first and last letters of the 'rounds,' and add a letter +between each round, to form the 'posts.' + +Right post. A large town in England, not far from Birmingham. + +Left post. The act or process of reasoning. + +Round 1. A boy's Christian name. + " 2. A small singing bird. + " 3. A town prominent in the South African War. + " 4. A large island in the Pacific. + " 5. A terrible monster of Greek legend. + " 6. Another island in the Pacific. + " 7. A race which invaded and conquered England. + +C. J. B. + +[_Answer on page 371._] + + +ANSWER TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 290. + +14.--1. F-rail. + 2. S-tale. + 3. B-one. + 4. S-hake. + 5. F-right. + 6. T-haw. + + + + +THE ASS OF DENMARK. + + +A Dane once brought to his country a beautiful he-ass from Andalusia, +and the animal was exhibited as a curiosity in all the towns. An +innkeeper of a place between Hamburg and Lubeck took it for a sign; he +had it painted, and hung the sign at the door of his inn, with the +inscription, 'The Ass of Denmark;' and the good accommodation of the inn +rendered it famous. + +Many years after, the Prince of Denmark, in passing by that place, took +lodging there. The honour was so highly appreciated by the innkeeper +that he begged the prince to allow him to take his portrait for a sign, +and this was granted him. Another innkeeper immediately bought the +well-known sign of the Ass, and by this means attracted to his inn all +travellers. The other then perceived his want of foresight; and in order +to remedy it, he had written at the foot of the portrait of the Prince +of Denmark, '_This is the original Ass._' + + + + +ETHEL'S ORANGE-PLANT. + + +'My little orange-tree is coming up! It has put out two leaves since +yesterday!' said Ethel, joyously, as she put the precious pot on the +rustic table in the arbour, which in the summer holidays was the +favourite sitting-room of Ethel and her sister May. 'I am so glad. I +wonder when it will begin to bear oranges,' and Ethel already saw, in +imagination, the tiny shoot, with its twin green leaves, growing into a +bushy tree, weighed down with golden fruit! + +'Here comes May,' she continued. 'May, May! isn't it nice? My orange has +two leaves!' + +May, however, was in no humour to rejoice with her little sister. Her +orange-pip, planted at the same time, showed no signs of life whatever, +and now to hear of Ethel's plant putting forth leaves was too much; and +so her only answer was to say crossly, 'What have you brought the stupid +thing here for? I want the table for my scrap-book.' + +'Oh, let it stop,' pleaded little Ethel. 'The sun always leaves the +schoolroom window at ten o'clock, and orange-trees want so much sun. +There is plenty of room for your desk and the pot.' + +May did not answer, but she pettishly pushed the plant to one side, and +placed her scrap-book on the table with a bang. + +'There is not room,' she said at last; 'where is my desk to go with that +great plant blocking up everything? Take it back to the schoolroom, +Ethel,' and not looking at the plant, she carelessly pushed it to one +side--too much to one side, for it fell to the ground and was broken to +pieces, the heavy scrap-book falling on top of it. + +'Oh, my plant! my beautiful plant is broken!' cried Ethel. 'I shall +never see the oranges grow on it,' and she covered her face with her +hands and sobbed bitterly. + +'What is the matter? Are you hurt, dear?' asked her mother, hurrying up +from a flower-bed where she was planting out seedlings. + +'It's the orange-plant!' sobbed Ethel; 'but May did not mean to break +it,' she added loyally. + +'Oh, dear, what a pity!' said Mrs. Randen, as she carefully lifted the +plant in its broken pot, and placed it on the table. 'How came you to be +so careless, May?' + +'I--I don't know,' stammered May, and she turned away feeling ashamed +and miserable, for her conscience told her it was scarcely an accident, +for she meant to be rough with the plant, though perhaps she had hardly +meant to break it. + +'How could I do it?' she asked herself, as she threw herself on the +schoolroom sofa, and burst into tears. 'Ethel is so good, too; how +horrid I must be to have grudged her pleasure in her plant, even though +mine is dead.' + +She raised her eyes to the window, where stood her pot, and there, to +her amazement, she saw a tender little leaf pushing through the dark +soil. It was not dead then! Quick as thought she jumped up, seized the +pot, and flew down to the arbour. + +'My plant is coming up, and you must have it, Ethel, because I am so +very sorry I broke yours,' she said eagerly. 'Take it, do, and say you +forgive me.' + +[Illustration: "May turned away, feeling ashamed and miserable."] + +'Oh, May, you could not help it,' said Ethel, drying her eyes, and +trying to smile, 'and I won't take your plant. I am very glad it is +coming up.' + +'You must have it,' said May firmly. 'I shall never like it unless it is +yours; it will always remind me of a horrid day,' ended up May, somewhat +lamely, for she could not say how guilty she felt in the matter. + +So Ethel had the plant, and nursed it so well that in days to come it +really did produce a small orange, and this time May was the first to +rejoice with her sister. + + + + +ANIMAL MAKESHIFTS. + +True Anecdotes. + +IV.--CURIOUS CUPBOARDS. + + +The inborn wisdom which Providence gives animals for their good is +clearly shown by something very like forethought about food supplies, an +instinct which tells creatures to lay by 'for a rainy day.' It is less +strongly marked among the winged races, because they prefer to fly in +search of fresh supplies when the old fail, and seldom provide +cupboards or larders at home. Yet there are birds that make stores. +After a full meal many of the crow tribe, including the raven, rook, and +jackdaw, will put away and hoard what is left. A magpie once paid me a +visit, perching on an ash-tree, the boughs of which almost brushed +against my bedroom window. Very early one morning he awoke me by calling +out his own name, together with a lot of chattering, the meaning of +which appeared to be that 'Maggie' was both hungry and thirsty. He was +tame and talkative, and had clearly escaped from somewhere. I placed a +saucer of milk and bread, with a dish of meat, cut up, and another of +fresh water, on the sill of the open window, and soon had the pleasure +of seeing my guest making a hearty meal. After eating till he could eat +no more, he took a splendid bath out of the water-dish, muttering +hoarsely all the while, and strutting up and down as he eyed the +remaining meat, which he felt unable to swallow. From time to time he +cast a cunning look my way, as if to hint politely that he wished to be +alone. 'Go about your business, do,' I thought the look said; so I went +out, shut the door, and watched him through the keyhole. With much +chuckling Maggie then laid his plans, and carried them out. + +That night, on going to bed, I found several lumps of meat hidden under +my pillow; a further search revealed a second layer beneath the bolster. +A few bits were crammed into chinks round the window-sashes, and the +rest was concealed in various convenient spots. There Maggie had placed +them to await the time when they should be wanted. He himself roosted on +one leg in the ash-tree, looking like a feather mop, and was spared the +grief of seeing his hoards discovered. But, in spite of the hidden +store, he roused me at dawn the next morning by shrill screams for +breakfast. + +[Illustration: "His playful habit of pulling out the pegs."] + +I knew Maggie would be claimed by somebody, and sure enough a woman, who +had tracked him by his voice, soon came and asked leave to 'call him +back.' But Maggie refused to come, and as the idea of a cage for any +living creature is distasteful to me, I was glad to arrange for his free +board and lodging in the tree near my window. I found that at his old +quarters, one of a row of cottages hard by, he had kept things lively by +his playful habit of watching the neighbours hang out their clean linen +in the back yards, getting loose from his cage, pouncing down on the +clothes-lines, pulling out the pegs, and chuckling with glee when all +the 'wash' fell down in the dirt, and had to be done over again. + +Dogs and cats, as descendants of wild races, still keep a trace of the +old customs of their ancestors. Who does not know the anxious look with +which a well-fed pet dog will dig a hole and bury a bone that he does +not happen to want, as if he had an old age in the workhouse to dread? I +have seen a little Yorkshire terrier go the round of the dinner-table, +sit up and beg piteously, pretending that 'the smallest trifle is most +thankfully received,' look carefully round, and, thinking that no one +saw him, bury those trifles under the hearthrug, and return for more. +The habit is not so common in cats, but I have known more than one puss +do the same thing. One little tabby, found in the snow on my doorstep, +would play with a piece of meat as if it were a mouse, make believe to +kill it, and then hide it away under the edge of the carpet, with a +great show of sniffing and scraping, as if to make sure that no other +cat could scent it out. She had once been nearly starved, and so had +learnt prudence. + +A few small animals, the squirrel, field mouse, and dormouse, are +store-keepers by nature. The larder is placed at a convenient distance +from the nest in which these little animals sleep, and if forgotten, or +accidentally left unused, the nuts, seeds, &c., often taken root and +grow. Many a spreading chestnut, sturdy oak, and shady beech, to say +nothing of hazel copse, owes life to these thrifty little folk, and thus +the tiny woodlanders give back to nature a thousandfold more than they +take. More than a bushel of raw potatoes was once found laid up by a +water-rat in his winter cupboard, underground. + +It is not every squirrel, however, that lays up a winter store. It seems +that if that prudent little animal sees his way to a fair supply of +food, or lives where human beings will provide victuals, he takes no +such trouble. He is, at any rate, a good judge of nuts. A gardener who +liked ripe filberts, and was looking forward to a fine crop in his +plantation, found out that a squirrel in the neighbourhood liked them +too, and knew how to 'sample' them better than himself. One day the +master of the filbert-trees came to his wife with a happy air. 'I have +done the squirrel this time, at all events,' said he; 'for I found a +heap of filberts he had put together, all ready to carry off, little by +little, and now when he returns he will find them gone.' Not a bit of +it! Every nut was a bad one, which the knowing little rascal had tossed +away in disgust, while he picked out all the good ones to eat or take +home! + +EDITH CARRINGTON. + + + + +A SHORT CONVERSATION. + + +The celebrated physician, Dr. Abernethy, was famous for the brevity and +bluntness of his answers; he never used a word more than was necessary. +One day a lady who knew his peculiarity came to him and held out her +finger without a word. + +'Cut?' asked the doctor. + +'Bite,' answered the patient. + +'Dog?' + +'Parrot.' + +'Go home and poultice,' said Abernethy. + +The next day the finger was again shown. + +'Better?' was the doctor's question. + +'Worse.' + +'Poultice again.' + +Lastly, when the finger was at length cured, the doctor even went so far +as to compliment his patient. + +'Better?' he asked. + +'Quite well.' + +'Good. You are the most sensible woman I ever met. Good-day.' + + + + +WHAT INSECTS LOVE. + + + 'I love,' said a Beetle, + 'The Buttercups all.' + 'And I,' quoth a Fly, + 'Like the Daisies small.' + But a Humble Bee + Said, 'As for me, + My love is true + To the Cornflowers blue, + And Violets hid by a moss-grown wall.' + + 'All flowers I adore,' + Laughed a Butterfly; + And murmured a Wasp, + 'Red Heather, say I.' + Then a grey Moth said, + 'When you're all in bed, + I have the bliss + Of the Woodbine's kiss; + She waits for me when the day doth die.' + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 335._) + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +After strolling some distance, the three travellers discovered the ruins +of an old brick building. They entered it, and found that there were no +signs of its being used by any one. + +'The first thing to do is to have something to eat,' said Charlie. + +He took from his pocket some of the food which the missionaries had +given them. Fred and Ping Wang followed his example, but in the middle +of their meal Charlie startled them by declaring that their plan for +getting him a pigtail was not worth carrying out. + +'What is the good of my having a pigtail?' he asked. 'I haven't a +skull-cap, and it can't be sewn to my "beehive."' + +'I will lend you my skull-cap,' Ping Wang said. + +'Thank you,' Charlie said. 'But how are we going to sew the pigtail to +the cap?' + +'I have a pin,' Fred replied. 'We must use that for a needle; and as for +thread we must pull some out of our clothing. That can easily be +managed.' + +As he was speaking, he rummaged about the inside of his coat, and +succeeded at last in pulling out about a yard of blue cotton. Then they +sat down on portions of the ruin which had fallen in, and prepared to +wait until it was dark enough to carry out their unpleasant but +necessary task. + +Three holes in the wall commanded a view of the surrounding country, and +they were satisfied that there was no one near them at present. For +nearly an hour they chatted quietly. But, when Charlie peeped out again, +he started back with a little cry of surprise. + +'Hallo!' he said, 'here comes the old woman who stole my pigtail.' + +Fred and Ping Wang sprang to their feet, and saw the cart in which they +had ridden coming slowly along the road. + +'I say, I should like to recover my pigtail,' said Charlie. 'Let us run +out and take it from her.' + +'No, no,' Ping Wang protested. 'While we were struggling to get hold of +it some one would be sure to see us. There's a man coming along now.' + +The occupants of the cart began to speak to the man some moments before +he met them. After a time the woman produced Charlie's pigtail, and +handed it to the man to look at. For a few moments he examined it +carefully, and apparently he came to the conclusion that he had as much +right to it as the woman, for suddenly he rushed off with it. The +cart-owner shouted to him to come back; his wife shuffled out of the +cart and hobbled a yard or two after the thief, but soon realised that +she would not be able to catch him. The Pages and Ping Wang thoroughly +enjoyed the scene. + +'The old lady does not appear to be in a hurry to go,' Charlie remarked. +'Hallo! she's coming over to look at the heads.' + +But when the woman had hobbled to the nearest pole, she contented +herself with looking up at its grim burden, and then began to hobble +back towards her cart. But, before she had gone five yards, she noticed +the ruin in which the Pages and Ping Wang were hiding. She stood still +and gazed at it. + +'She is coming over here to see what this place is!' said Charlie. + +'She is,' Fred declared, and, as he spoke, the woman began to hobble in +their direction. + +'What shall we do?' Charlie whispered. + +'Stay here,' Ping Wang answered. 'We must lie down flat and then she may +overlook us.' + +'Down we go,' Fred said; 'she's very near.' + +About a minute later they heard the woman approach the hole in the wall, +through which they had been watching her. From a grunt of annoyance +which she uttered, they knew that she was not tall enough to see +through. They could hear her hobbling round to the next hole, and from +another grunt they guessed that she found it, like the other, above her +reach. She toddled round to the third hole, which was lower down. When +they heard her stop before it, they held their breath and lay +motionless, wondering whether she would see them. Their suspense was +soon at an end. + +'Foreigners!' she shouted, wildly. + +'Come on, Fred--come on, Ping Wang!' cried Charlie, jumping up; 'we must +bolt.' + +The Chinese woman was so startled by his voice that she moved hurriedly +back, and, being unsteady on her tiny crippled feet, she toppled over +and fell, shouting to her husband to come and catch the foreigners. + +'There is no one about,' Fred declared, when all three had scrambled out +of their hiding-place, 'so we will get a pigtail at once.' + +Fred and Ping Wang without a moment's hesitation ran to the nearest +execution pole, and by tugging vigorously at it brought it to the +ground. + +'Have you a knife?' Fred said to Ping Wang, who immediately produced +one, which, fortunately, was fairly sharp. Quickly, and as reverently as +possible, Fred performed the task which his brother's need had made +necessary, and placing the pigtail in his pocket he started off, +accompanied by Ping Wang, to rejoin Charlie, who had been having a busy +and exciting time. When Fred and Ping Wang ran to obtain a pigtail, he +dashed off towards the cart, and the cartman, seeing him coming, and +believing that he intended to rob him of his one hundred cash, left his +horse and vehicle and bolted across country. But Charlie, of course, had +no intention of acting the highway robber. He unharnessed the horse, and +turning him round started him off in the direction from which he had +come. But the horse knew that his stable was at Kwang-ngan, and had a +very natural objection to being sent in the reverse direction. After +trotting about twenty yards he turned round, and, breaking into a +gallop, approached Charlie, who stood in the middle of the track, with +arms extended, to stop his progress. But the cunning horse pretended +that he was going to pass on the right of Charlie, and, as soon as +Charlie jumped aside to stop him, changed his course suddenly and shot +by him on the left. + +It was fortunate, however, that the horse did insist upon going towards +Kwang-ngan, for, when the Pages and Ping Wang followed in the same +direction, they saw two Chinamen coming towards them. + +'Let us pretend that the horse has escaped from us,' Charlie suggested, +and they broke into a run. The horse hearing their footsteps, changed +his leisurely walk to a trot. The Chinamen made no attempt to stop him, +but stood aside to let him pass, and laughed and jeered at the pursuers. + +'Well, I am glad that they did not stop the horse,' Charlie declared. +'But what are we going to do now? Chase that wretched horse all the way +to Kwang-ngan?' + +'No,' Ping Wang replied. 'We must leave the horse. We must take that +track on the left, get round the town, and enter it by the gate on the +far side. To enter it by the one on this side would be very risky, as +the cartman and his wife will tell every one they meet that we are bound +for Kwang-ngan, and some of my more violent anti-foreign countrymen are +sure to start in pursuit of us.' + +They left the main track and joined a little-used one which led round +the town. For half an hour they marched along in single file without +meeting or catching sight of any other human beings. Night came on, and +they were about a mile from the town, when they heard the shouts of an +advancing mob. + +'We must hide: follow me!' Ping Wang exclaimed, and ran in the direction +of the town. The ground between the track and town wall was very uneven, +and abounded in little hollows which would have afforded ample +concealment, but Ping Wang did not halt until they had run fully half a +mile. + +'Let's sit down here,' he said, panting. + +They sat down in a hollow surrounded by shrubs, and listened to the +shouts of the men whom they had so nearly encountered. + +'I imagine that they are the members of some society,' said Ping Wang. +'If they had discovered that Charlie and you were Europeans, they would +probably have killed us all.' + +'The best thing we could do if we do meet them,' Charlie joined in, 'is +to pretend that we are deaf and dumb. We _are_ deaf and dumb as far as +Chinese is concerned. And, now, if you will give me that pigtail, I will +try to sew it to this skull-cap. I've never yet tried sewing with a pin, +and I fancy that it won't be an easy job.' + +Charlie repeated that opinion several times during the next half-hour, +for, what with the difficulty of getting the head of the pin through the +cap, and the cotton constantly slipping off the pin, it was a most +irritating job. However, after working hard for a little more than half +an hour, he finished it. + +'It doesn't look at all bad,' Fred declared. + +Then they talked for some time of their journey, and of the treasure for +which they had travelled so far. + +'There's somebody coming!' Fred exclaimed, stopping Ping Wang in the +middle of a sentence. + +They listened. 'Let's get up and walk on,' Ping Wang said, quietly. 'I +fancy there are quite fifty men approaching. Probably they are some of +the men whom we heard an hour ago. There are more of them on the left, +and they're closing in on us. Remember that, if they do see us, you are +both not to say a word.' + +(_Continued on page 346._) + +[Illustration: "The horse shot by him."] + +[Illustration: "The dog hailed his master as he passed."] + + + + +CRUISERS IN THE CLOUDS. + +X.--PARACHUTES. + + +Venturesome people are always on the look-out for fresh excitements. To +them it is not enough to go up in the car of a balloon in the ordinary +way. They must do something that no one else had ever done. So a M. +Margat ascended sitting astride a wooden horse, and Madame Blanchard +attached fireworks to _her_ balloon, and discharged them in mid-air. At +Paris, on July 6th, 1819, she meant to make a finer display than usual, +and succeeded in letting off fountains of fire from a wooden platform +beneath the car. But, not content with this, she hoped to surprise and +delight the people of Paris still further by letting off a fresh display +from the car itself. Unfortunately she overlooked the fact that a small +stream of gas was pouring from the lower end of her balloon, owing to +the envelope having been too fully charged, and the moment she struck +the match this stream caught fire. A tongue of flame ran up the outside +of the bag, and, her efforts to put it out proving in vain, she pulled +the valve-rope to descend. The gas rushed out at the top, but caught +fire in turn, and the falling car, coming in contact with the roof of a +house, threw Madame Blanchard to the ground with fatal result. + +Accidents in the air have been countless, a large number of them being +due to the use of the parachute. But this invention has frequently been +employed effectively. Though the idea of such a machine may be traced +back many hundreds of years in old drawings and old books, the inventor +of the first in which a descent was actually made, was Jacques Garnerin, +a pupil of the celebrated Professor Charles. The first to make use of it +was his little dog. M. Garnerin carried the parachute, tied underneath a +balloon, above a dense cloud. Here the little dog was carefully secured +in the car of the parachute, and the next moment disappeared swiftly +into the cloud. Garnerin pulled the valve-rope, and followed. But his +little dog was nowhere to be seen, on account of the mist. His master +was about to let out more gas, thinking that he was behindhand in this +race to the earth, when a loud and joyous barking fell on his ear. It +came from overhead, but Garnerin could see nothing until, when the cloud +was left behind, the parachute emerged into the sunshine a few yards +away. The dog, with senses quicker than his own, had been conscious of +his master's presence, and hailed him as he passed. But the balloon +continued rapidly on its downward course, and, answering the barks with +consoling words, the aeronaut hurried to the earth. A moment or two +later he welcomed his strange little traveller from the clouds. The dog, +happily, suffered nothing, and even seemed to enjoy the experiment, +which might have proved both cruel and fatal. + +Garnerin's dog was the pioneer of many human travellers in the same +machine. The master himself was the next to perform the feat, and, +watched by a large crowd, on October 22nd, 1797, he cut his parachute +loose from his balloon at a height of three thousand feet. A cry of +horror broke from the watchers as the parachute was seen to descend with +awful swiftness. But it flew open the next moment, and though M. +Garnerin was swung dangerously from side to side, he reached the ground +in safety. This swaying was due to the fact that he had not made a hole +in the top of his 'umbrella,' to allow the air to rush through. +Imprisoned in the dome, its only outlet was over the sides, and this +caused the apparatus to swing. M. Garnerin took advantage of the lesson, +and made the opening before his next flight. + +This parachute was built like a huge umbrella, the cords supporting the +car coming from the outside ends of the 'ribs.' Being closed, when +detached from the balloon it, of course, descended at a great speed till +the rush of air became strong enough to force it open. It was used +without mishap in many descents, and is still the pattern for +parachutes. + +Among many who sought to improve upon M. Garnerin's machine was an +Englishman, named Cocking. In 1836 he built a parachute with the sides +turned up instead of down, like an umbrella blown inside out, thinking +that it would give greater steadiness in the descent. Thus far he was +correct, but, being too sure of success, he allowed himself, without +first making experiments, to be cut loose from a balloon three thousand +feet up, and was instantly killed, the parachute being too weak in +construction. Sixteen years later another inventor made a parachute like +Garnerin's, but provided with large wings. Standing in an iron frame he +worked these wings with both arms, with the intention of directing the +parachute in its fall, thus, to a certain extent, turning it into a +flying machine. But when he was descending near Tottenham, on June 27th, +1854, an unfortunate accident resulted in the inventor's death. + +Such were some of the misuses of the parachute; but, though with care it +may be employed with safety, it is not popular with aeronauts, who have +pointed out that the balloon itself may, in emergencies, be turned into +a parachute. When the gas has nearly all escaped the passage of air will +drive the silk up into the netting, and so check the speed of descent. +Mr. Coxwell more than once came safely to earth in this way. Only a +short time ago, on July 24th, 1904, an incident bearing on this point +occurred in France. A captive balloon, when some hundred feet from the +ground, was torn from its anchorage by a sudden gust of wind. The nine +passengers in the car were horrified to find themselves a few moments +later sailing above the clouds. At ten thousand feet the pressure of gas +had become so great that the silk envelope was ruptured, and the +terrified travellers realised that they were falling rapidly. They then +left the car, and climbed into the network. Fortunately, as the balloon +collapsed more and more, it took the form of a parachute, and eventually +landed two miles from the starting-point, with its passengers more +terrified than hurt. + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 343._) + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +They walked on in silence. Soon they were able to distinguish some of +the men. All of them were armed--some with swords, some with sticks, +and one or two with bows and arrows. None, so far as could be seen, +carried fire-arms. They soon caught sight of the Pages and Ping Wang, +and stood watching the travellers as they approached. + +Concealing their excitement, Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang continued +walking on until they came face to face with the men, who wore yellow +cloths round their heads and also round their bodies and legs. One of +them spoke sharply, and Ping Wang replied promptly and cheerfully. His +reply evidently pleased them, for they spoke to him in a friendly +manner. Charlie and Fred stood silently a foot or two in rear of their +friend, and, as they did not understand anything of what was being said, +it was easy for them not to show any sign of interest. Suddenly one of +the men spoke to Charlie, who acted his part well, continuing to gaze at +Ping Wang's back, and appearing ignorant of the fact that he had been +addressed. Ping Wang turned round instantly, and, with a sorrowful air, +spoke to the man. Charlie and Fred guessed from Ping Wang's manner, and +the surprise which his words created, that he had declared that they +could not speak or understand. + +When the people had, apparently, expressed their sorrow, Ping Wang +suddenly addressed the crowd in a loud voice. He pointed to Charlie and +Fred, and, as he did so, his tone became more indignant, his manner more +excited. When he had brought his speech to an end, the crowd behaved +like a gathering of madmen. Swords, spears, and sticks were flourished +about in a most reckless and threatening manner. + +After the performance, which might be called a war-dance, had subsided, +a portly Chinaman, with a red cloth tied round his head, and cloth of a +similar colour covering his body and legs, advanced to within a yard of +Ping Wang, and shook hands with himself. Ping Wang instantly shook his +own hands. Having thus greeted each other, the two men entered into an +earnest conversation, and it was clear that they were discussing a +matter of importance from the manner in which the crowd closed on them, +so as to hear everything that was said. And then it was that Charlie and +Fred noticed that every man present was wearing either a yellow or a red +cloth round his head. The majority wore yellow ones, those who were +wearing red being, evidently, the bodyguard of the fat gentleman who was +talking to Ping Wang. + +At length the conversation came to an end, and from the smile on the +portly Chinaman's face Charlie and Fred concluded, rightly, that Ping +Wang had succeeded in pleasing him. But what followed puzzled them +completely. The crowd moved back, leaving them with Ping Wang and the +big man in the centre of a circle. Then three men advanced to join them. +One was carrying a long cane, the second two lighted incense candles, +and the third a handful of square pieces of paper, on which were written +some Chinese characters. The fat man and Ping Wang then went down on +their knees, face to face, and so close to each other that their noses +almost touched. As they knelt, the man with the paper set light to one +of the pieces, and tossed it in the air above the kneeling men. As he +did so Ping Wang and the man opposite to him bent down their heads, and +butted each other gently. When the kneeling men had butted each other +seven times, the man with the cane struck Ping Wang one blow across the +back. The butting ceased at once, and Ping Wang stood up, the crowd +giving vent to harsh cries, which were meant for applause. + +The fat man remained on his knees, and Ping Wang signed to Charlie to +take the position which he had just left. Charlie was put through the +same performance as Ping Wang, and when he rose up, Fred knelt down, and +went through the same ceremony. + +When the portly Chinaman had got on his feet, he shouted to some one in +the crowd, and a man ran to him, carrying in his hand three pieces of +yellow cloth. These were presented to Ping Wang and the Pages. Ping Wang +did not don the yellow cloth, but placed it in his pocket, and Charlie +and Fred followed his example. + +The crowd now separated, some men proceeding towards Kwang-ngan, and +others starting off to more distant villages. The Pages and Ping Wang +went with the former; but, as they walked slowly, they were soon left +behind, much to their satisfaction. Having looked round and satisfied +himself that the nearest men were more than a hundred yards ahead of +them, Charlie said to Ping Wang, in an undertone, 'What was the meaning +of it all?' + +'Simply this,' Ping Wang answered with a smile, 'we have been sworn in +members of the Big Sword, or Boxer Society--a Society which exists for +the sole purpose of ferreting out and killing foreigners.' + +Before Charlie and Fred had recovered from the surprise of this +announcement, the people in front started running quickly towards the +town. + +'The town gates are about to be closed for the night,' Ping Wang +explained. 'We will stay out here until they are opened to-morrow. Let +us hide among these bushes, in case any more men should come along and +be suspicious of us for not hurrying.' + +They pushed their way through the dwarf bushes until they came to a +small clearing. Then they sat down and waited silently until the last +townsman had hurried by. + +'They have all gone,' Ping Wang declared a quarter of an hour after the +last man had passed, 'so now I will tell you all about the Boxers. After +we had exchanged greetings they told me that they were members of the +Big Sword or Big Fist Society, commonly known as Boxers, and asked me to +join them. I agreed to do so; if I had refused we should not be alive +now. Then they told me that the Empress Dowager, Tsi-Hsi, and most of +the mandarins were supporting them, and had approved of their plan to +destroy every European and native Christian in the land. I asked when +the rising was likely to take place, and was told that, as far as they +knew, it would begin in about three weeks' time. Then I heard a man +address you, and therefore declared at once that you could not speak, +and after that I made a speech pretending to be very hostile to +foreigners.' + +'Don't you think,' said Charlie, 'that we ought to hurry back to warn +Barton and his friends of the threatened rising?' + +'We can warn them without going back to them. I will send word to my +cousin. Since he has become a Christian, all the members of his family, +excepting his youngest brother, have refused to speak to him. His +youngest brother, who is in Kwang-ngan, is very fond of him, and when I +tell him of his brother's danger, he will, I am certain, hurry off to +warn him--and, of course, my cousin will tell Barton.' + +[Illustration: "They butted each other gently."] + +Then they began to discuss once more the object of their visit to +China--the recovery of the idol. + +'I'm very anxious to get that treasure,' Charlie declared, 'but I feel +just now as if I would willingly sell my share of it for a good meal. +I'm both hungry and cold.' + +'Then let us walk about,' Ping Wang suggested. 'It will keep us warm. +Our hunger we shall have to put up with for several hours, I'm afraid.' + +As they tried to get warm, Ping Wang told them of many curious customs +of his countrymen, to make the time pass. But in spite of his stories +they became very tired and hungry, and were exceedingly thankful when, +at last, daylight appeared. + +(_Continued on page 354._) + +[Illustration: "He hit out with all his force."] + + + + +THE EAGLE'S NEST. + + +Frank Ardlamont and his younger brother Dick had a liking for every kind +of country sport, and were always ready for any adventure which required +skill and daring. When, therefore, they were spending a holiday in the +Highlands of Scotland, and learned that there was an eagle's nest built +upon an almost inaccessible ledge on the steep side of Ben Galt, +scarcely three miles away from the house where they were staying, they +thought it would be a fine thing to try and capture one of the young. +The lads had recently seen an eagle in one of the cages of a travelling +menagerie, and they thought that if they could capture a young one, they +might perhaps be able to rear it. They talked the matter over, arranged +their plans, and finally proceeded to carry them out. + +The nest was a little below the edge of a steep cliff, and there was a +rugged, winding path, leading up to the top of the cliff. Having +provided themselves with a strong iron bar, a rope, and several stout +sticks, Frank and Dick started out for Ben Galt, accompanied by a Scotch +gillie. They climbed to the top of the cliff without much difficulty, +and drove the iron bar firmly into a crevice of the rock. Then Frank +tied one end of the rope round his waist, and having fastened the other +to the iron bar, he passed the middle of the rope round it in a loop, +and told the others how to pay it out in sailor fashion. This done he +dropped over the edge of the cliff, and began his descent. + +The boys had seen the eagles starting out upon their morning hunt, as +they were on their way to Ben Galt. The birds were nowhere in sight when +Frank swung himself from the cliff, and he had no fear of an attack. He +was careful, nevertheless, to carry a good stout stick with him. He +dropped upon the edge where the nest was built, and drew down just +enough rope to allow him to move about freely. The nest was a flat pile +or floor of sticks, covered with rushes, heath, and grass. It was not +hollowed out, but the eaglets upon it were protected to some extent by +the overhanging of the cliff itself. About the nest lay the scattered +bones of hares, rabbits, and moor-fowl, with here and there a larger one +which might have belonged to some young lamb or kid. + +Frank stood looking at the nest for a few minutes before he took up one +of the young birds. The eaglet gaped hungrily as he lifted it up, and +made a sort of screeching noise, struggling apparently to reach +something behind Frank. He turned quickly, and was horrified to see one +of the parent birds sweeping up from the valley below. His first impulse +was to give the signal for those above to haul him up, and to jump off +the edge at once; but a moment's reflection showed him that it would be +foolish to do so. The eagle was close upon him, and he saw that he would +be much more helpless dangling at the end of a rope, than standing +firmly upon his feet. So he withdrew as far as he could under the +shelter of the overhanging rock, and waited, stick in hand, for the +angry bird. As it came up, he hit out with all his force. It was well +that he had remained where he was, for the eagle was placed at a +disadvantage by having to draw in its wings in order to approach him. +With gaping beak and extended claws it flew at him, but before it could +touch him he delivered another heavy blow at its neck, and three or four +in quick succession upon its shoulders. The first blow crippled it for +the moment, and the succession of them so disabled it that it dropped +in the air, and fell fluttering helplessly down into the valley. + +Frank cast a quick glance across the sky, and saw the companion eagle +returning high in the air. The pair had evidently been hunting in their +usual way, one near the ground, and the other at a great height. He saw +that he had no time to lose. He gave three sharp tugs at the rope, and +sprang from the ledge. In a few minutes he was drawn up safely to the +top of the cliff, carrying the eaglet in his arm. The returning eagle +flew straight to the nest; then, hearing the cries of his wounded +companion, he directed his course to where it lay. The two boys and the +gillie, finding the eagles' attention diverted from them, made haste to +return to the valley, glad to have escaped without injury. + + + + +FAIRY SONG. + + + Ding-dong, + The Sun has gone: + A crimson night-gown he put on: + I saw him cover up his head: + Ding dong, + He's now in bed. + + Fairy maid, + Come to the glade: + The meadow is with pearls arrayed: + The moonbeams cling to every tree + Lovingly. + From thy bower + To dance an hour + Come, and leave the cosy flower + That cradles thee. + + Fairy man, + Arise, arise! + Stars are dancing in the skies: + Leaves are dancing on the trees + To the music of night's breeze. + Come a-tripping, + Come a-tripping, + Time is slipping fast away, + Ever slipping towards the day! + Drag each lazy fairy-fellow + From his sleepy bed; + Dress him up in crocus yellow, + Or in roses red. + Arise, arise! + Stars are kissing in the skies. + + Ding-dong, + The Sun has gone: + A crimson night-gown he put on: + I saw him cover up his head: + Ding-dong, + He's safe in bed. + + + + +REGIMENTS IN THE CITY. + + +The regiment of the Third Grenadier Guards not long ago changed its +quarters from the Tower to the Wellington Barracks, and marched past the +Mansion House in the City of London in full panoply of war, band +playing, colours flying, and bayonets glittering in the bright +sunshine. + +Before, however, their Colonel could thus proudly lead his regiment +through the old historic streets of London, he had to obtain permission +from the Lord Mayor, who, by virtue of a power dating back to a very +remote period, can refuse the marching of troops through the City +without his permission. + +Two regiments only are exceptions to this law, the 'Buffs,' or East Kent +Regiment, and the Honourable Artillery Company; both these are descended +from the old trained bands of the City, and therefore have the right to +march through when they will, with arms and unfurled colours. + +Unfurled colours, it may be mentioned, always claim great honour and +respect. When first presented to a regiment, the officer receives them +on bended knee, and to this day very many people raise their hats to the +colours as they are carried by. + + + + +HEROES AND HEROINES OF FAMOUS BOOKS. + +IV.--THE STORY OF SINBAD THE SAILOR + +(From the 'Arabian Nights.') + + +There once lived in Bagdad a poor porter, whose name was Hindbad. One +day, during the excessive heat of summer, he was carrying a heavy load +from one end of the city to the other, and, just as he was feeling very +tired of his burden, came upon a street refreshed by a gentle breeze. +The pavement was sprinkled with rose-water, and in a fine position, +close to the street, stood a splendid mansion. Asking whose house it +was, Hindbad was told that it was the residence of Sinbad the Sailor, +'that famous voyager who had sailed over all the seas under the sun.' +Hindbad could not help thinking how different this man's situation was +from his own, and he exclaimed in a loud voice, 'Alas, what a difference +there is between Sinbad and myself! I suffer daily a thousand ills, and +find the greatest difficulty in providing my wretched family with bad +barley bread, whilst Sinbad spends his riches freely, and enjoys every +pleasure. What has he done to be so happy, or I to be so unhappy?' + +As he said this, he struck the ground with his foot angrily, and stood +there looking at the house, the picture of despair. As he remained thus, +a servant came out from the great house, and, taking hold of his arm, +said, 'Come, follow me; my master, Sinbad, wishes to speak with you.' +Very soon Hindbad was brought into the presence of the great man, who +was surrounded by a crowd of officers and servants. He was a very grave +and venerable person, with a long white beard. The poor porter felt very +much afraid when he saw so much magnificence; but Sinbad drove away his +fears by his kindness, and helped him to the choicest dishes. + +After the feast Sinbad addressed Hindbad by the title of 'brother,' and +asked his name and profession. Hindbad answered him faithfully. Sinbad +wished to know what it was he had said in the street, and this also +Hindbad told him. Then Sinbad pointed out how foolish the porter's anger +and envy had been, since he did not really know whether this wealth had +not been won worthily by toil and hardship; and when Hindbad began to +see that he had spoken without thought, Sinbad went on to give some +account of his adventures in seven voyages that he had made on different +seas. We shall not narrate the whole of these adventures during the +various voyages, but shall only take two of them, one of which has +passed into a proverb. + +When Sinbad was a young man, he spent the fortune he inherited from his +father foolishly. But there came a day, happily while he was still +young, when he saw his folly, and determined to use what was left of his +fortune in a better manner. As a first step in this direction, he sought +the advice of some merchants who traded by sea, with the result that he +embarked with several of them in a vessel which they had fitted out at +their united expense. It was a lovely day when they set sail, but before +long the wind fell, and they were becalmed off a small island. The +captain ordered the sails to be furled, and gave permission for those +who wished to go ashore. Amongst those who took advantage of the +permission was Sinbad himself. He and his comrades sat down to lunch on +one of the greenest parts of the island, and had just begun their meal, +when the island suddenly trembled, and they felt a great shock. They at +first supposed that it was an earthquake, but in this they were +mistaken, for the island turned out to be nothing more nor less than a +huge whale! The most active of the party jumped into the boat, while +others threw themselves into the water to swim to the ship. Sinbad +himself was still on the 'island' when it plunged into the sea. He had +only time, as he sank, to catch hold of a piece of wood which had been +brought to make a fire with. A breeze had sprung up, and the captain of +the ship set sail, leaving Sinbad, whom he had possibly not missed, to +the mercy of the waves. + +At last a great wave dashed Sinbad, nearly exhausted, on to an island +which, this time, he found to be really good firm earth. The men of the +island were kind to him, and told him that had he been a day later he +would very likely have perished from starvation, for on the following +day they were leaving that part of the island, with the horses which +they were to take to the King. + +The King received Sinbad in a friendly manner, and the wanderer stayed +in the chief city for some time. At length, one day, when he was +standing near the harbour, he saw a ship come towards the land. It was +loaded with goods, and as he was looking he saw his own name on some of +the packages, and knew them to be those which he had left behind him in +the vessel. On making inquiries of the captain, whom he recollected as +the captain with whom he had formerly sailed, he was told that the +parcels belonged to 'a merchant of Bagdad, named Sinbad.' Of course, it +took but a short time to convince the captain that the man to whom he +was speaking was the missing passenger. Sinbad related his adventures, +and was soon in possession of his merchandise again. He selected from it +some of the most valuable things, and presented them to the King of the +island. He sold the remainder for a good sum of money, and at length +returned in the ship to his native land, where he was received by his +family and friends with great joy. + +(_Concluded on page 354._) + +[Illustration: "'My master wishes to speak with you.'"] + +[Illustration: "He saw an old man, who seemed to be very weary."] + + + + +HEROES AND HEROINES OF FAMOUS BOOKS. + +IV.--THE STORY OF SINBAD THE SAILOR. + +(From the 'Arabian Nights.') + +(_Concluded from page 351._) + + +Sinbad bought a magnificent house and grounds, and thought of settling +down and forgetting all the disagreeable things that had happened to +him; but this state of idleness did not please his active turn of mind, +and he soon gave it up and took to his travels again. He made no less +than seven voyages before he retired and settled down with his family. +On one of these voyages he was again wrecked, and after a narrow escape +from drowning, was cast up on another island. He wandered along the +shore for some time, and presently came upon a little stream. On the +banks of this brook he saw an old man seated, who seemed to be very +broken down and weary. 'I approached and saluted him,' said Sinbad to +Hindbad, 'but instead of replying he made signs to me to take him on my +shoulders and cross the brook, making me understand that he wanted to +gather some fruit.' This Sinbad did, and when he had reached the other +side of the stream with his heavy load, he stopped and asked the old man +to get down. + +But then a strange thing happened. 'This old man,' said Sinbad, 'who +appeared so decrepit, nimbly threw his legs, which I now saw were +covered with a hard skin, over my neck, and seated himself on my +shoulders, at the same time squeezing my throat so tightly that I +expected to be strangled. I was so alarmed that I fainted away.' The old +man, however, would not loose his hold, but made his prisoner carry him +and gather fruit for him, and work for him generally, without paying him +any money or allowing him any liberty, merely raining down blows on him +for all that he did. + +But at last, one day, Sinbad's opportunity came. The old man having +taken a drink which Sinbad had prepared for him out of some grapes he +found, became drowsy, and began to sway about on the shoulders of his +carrier, who, understanding how things were, threw his burden to the +ground, and thus got rid of him. Overjoyed at being once again free, he +walked towards the sea-shore, and here, to his great joy, he met some +people who belonged to a vessel which had anchored there to get fresh +water. He told them of his adventures, and they assured him that he had +fallen into the hands of the Old Man of the Sea, adding, 'You are the +first whom he has not strangled; he never left those whom he had once +mastered till he had put an end to their lives. The sailors and +merchants who land here never dare approach him except in a strong +body.' + +No doubt _Chatterbox_ readers have often heard the phrase, 'The old man +of the sea,' which is only another term for a weight that we have taken +upon ourselves and cannot shake off. Thus, if a man is in debt, and +cannot get clear, the debt is said to be a veritable 'old man of the +sea' to him who carries the burden. + +All Sinbad's fatigue at last ended, and he arrived happily at Bagdad, +where he lived a quiet and worthy life till the hour of his death. +Hindbad, when he heard the tale, was obliged to admit that the man whose +riches he had so envied had not won them without fearful perils, and +that his own miseries, as compared with those undergone by the owner of +the mansion, were as nothing; and Sinbad, remembering what he had once +suffered himself, behaved kindly and generously to the porter, making +him his friend, and promising him that all his life he should have +reason to remember Sinbad the Sailor. + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 349._) + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +The Pages and Ping Wang were among the first twenty to pass in at the +town gates, and the latter at once crossed over to an inn and peeped in +at the door. The glance he gave satisfied him, and he beckoned to +Charlie and Fred to enter. It was not an attractive-looking place, but +there was a smell of roast pork, that made the hungry travellers sniff +with delight. + +The dining-room into which Ping Wang led the way was very dirty, and +until Charlie and Fred were told what the room was they had no idea that +it was there that they were to breakfast. They sat down on a form at a +little, bare wooden table, and before long were enjoying a hearty meal +of roast pork and tea. + +'And now,' Fred said, when they had satisfied their healthy appetites, +'I should like to lie down and sleep.' + +'So should I,' Charlie declared. 'What kind of beds do they have here?' + +'We can lie on the floor here if we like,' Ping Wang answered. + +'I'll do so,' Charlie said, and down he went on the floor, turned his +face to the wall, rested his head on his arm, and closed his eyes: Fred +followed his example at once. + +Ping Wang waited until his friends were asleep, and then, having +satisfied himself that their pigtails were not slipping off, and that +there was nothing about their appearance to attract attention, he lay +down beside them. + +All three slept soundly until the landlord came in and awoke Ping Wang, +who had an argument with him about the price of roast pork. + +'What is our next move?' Charlie asked, quietly, when the landlord had +left the room. + +'To go and see my cousin,' Ping Wang replied, 'to warn him of the danger +which threatens his brother and all other Christians.' + +Ping Wang found his cousin--a fan-maker--at his shop. He had heard of +the Boxers' intentions the day before, and had already been to his +brother to warn him and his friends. This was indeed good news, and Ping +Wang was anxious to tell his friends of it, but dared not, for his +cousin's work-people were in the next room, and would probably hear +them speaking English. He told his cousin, however, that his friends, +who were standing at the door, were Englishmen, a piece of news which +caused the fan-maker much uneasiness. He begged Ping Wang not to +introduce him to the Englishmen, and urged him to get them out of the +town as quickly as possible. Ping Wang chatted with him for a few more +minutes and then departed. + +The streets were now crowded with people, and Ping Wang whispered to his +friends not to speak on any account until they were safe at another inn. +He led them through numerous narrow streets, and was within a hundred +yards of the inn where he hoped to get a room when a man came running +along the street, shouting wildly, slashing about with a whip, and +driving the people back against the houses on either side. Ping Wang +pushed the Pages back quickly and stood in front of them. + +A few moments later Charlie and Fred understood the cause of the +excitement. A gorgeous palanquin was borne rapidly past them, but not so +quickly that they were unable to see the occupant. He was a fat, +cruel-looking man, and took no notice whatever of the kowtowing of the +people. On his head he wore a yellow cloth, such as the Boxers had worn +on the previous evening, and this was regarded, as it was meant to be, +as a sign that he was in sympathy with the Boxer movement. + +'Chin Choo,' Ping Wang muttered, as the palanquin passed out of sight, +and Charlie and Fred knew that they had seen the murderer of their +friend's father, and the possessor of the treasure which they had come +to China to secure. + +The inn to which Ping Wang led his friends was the best in Kwang-ngan. +It was roomy, fairly clean, and was the only place of its kind that was +two storeys high. The other inns had but one storey. + +Ping Wang took a room on the first floor, and they entered into +occupation at once. + +'Let us sit in the middle of the room,' Ping Wang said, 'and then, if we +talk very quietly, there will be no fear of any one hearing that we are +not talking Chinese.' + +Ping Wang then told his friends of what his cousin had said to him. They +were very much relieved to hear that the missionaries had been warned of +the danger that threatened them, but were rather worried by the +difficulties before them. + +'The easiest way to get into Chin Choo's garden,' Ping Wang said, 'will +be by climbing over the wall. It is a high one, certainly, but I do not +think that we shall have much difficulty in scaling it. What I do fear +is that, as Chin Choo's house is in the busiest part of the town, we may +have to wait days, perhaps weeks, before we find the road deserted, even +at night. As soon as it is dark, we will go out and find the most +convenient spots for climbing. In the meanwhile, are either of you +hungry?' + +Charlie and Fred had had such a hearty breakfast that they almost +shuddered at the mention of food. + +'Well,' Ping Wang said, 'I'm not hungry either, but we shall want some +dinner.' + +He went downstairs to give the order and have a chat with the +inn-keeper. He was absent about twenty minutes, and when he returned the +Pages saw that he had some news to tell them. + +'What is it?' Charlie asked. + +Ping Wang quietly turned the key in the door and then sat down beside +his friends. + +'There is to be a feast to-night. It's to be held at the other end of +the town, and everybody who possibly can will be there. That will leave +this end of the town nearly deserted. A better opportunity for climbing +over Chin Choo's wall we could not possibly have. The road will be +deserted, and most of Chin Choo's servants will be at the feast. Perhaps +Chin Choo himself will be there. Don't let us talk about it just now. +Our dinner will not be brought up for three hours, and in the meantime +we had better get all the sleep that we can. We must be as fresh as +possible this evening.' + +Charlie and Fred agreed, and five minutes later all three were sleeping +soundly. + +They were aroused from their slumber by a terrific banging at their +door. + +'Who's there?' Ping Wang asked in Chinese, and the reply came, from the +landlord himself, that he was their disreputable nephew, who would, if +permitted to intrude his worthless body upon their exalted presence, lay +the dinner. + +Ping Wang replied instantly that if their intellectual uncle would +condescend to demean himself by waiting on such idiotic monkeys, they +would at once admit his glorious body to their ridiculous and +contemptible presence. + +These flowery Chinese compliments having been exchanged, Ping Wang +opened the door to his 'uncle,' and his 'nephew' walked in and placed a +couple of ducks on the table. + +As soon as they had finished their meal, the Pages and Ping Wang went to +the window and stood gazing down into the busy street. Charlie quickly +noticed that nearly all the people who were proceeding in one direction +were carrying provisions. + +'Are they taking those things to give to their ancestors' ghosts?' he +inquired. + +'Well, no,' Ping Wang replied. 'The feast to be given to-night has been +got up by the priests of Fo.' + +'Who is Fo?' + +'Buddha. Fo is our name for him. The Buddhists decided, many years ago, +that the Confucians were to be blamed for neglecting to feast the ghosts +of those who had been so unfortunate as to die without leaving any +descendants, and agreed to do the work themselves. They published +accounts of the terrible sufferings of the starving ghosts who had no +descendants, and urged the people to contribute food to relieve their +wants. The people gave willingly, and from that time the Buddhist +priests have had feasts at intervals. I think that we shall be able to +see part of this evening's performance. At dusk we will go out and +examine the wall round Chin Choo's house, and when we have found the +best place for scaling it, we will hurry off to the feast. We will stay +there a short time, and then return to finish our job. By this time +to-morrow I hope that we shall be back at Su-ching, with our pockets +full of rubies. But Chin Choo is not likely to be merciful to any one +found robbing him.' + +'But we are not going to rob him,' Charlie declared. 'We are simply +going to recover what he has stolen from you.' + +[Illustration: "A gorgeous palanquin was borne rapidly past."] + +'That is so,' said Fred; 'but Chin Choo will think that as much stealing +as if we were taking from him something to which he had a perfect +right.' + +'Oh, well, don't let us look on the gloomy side of the affair,' said +Ping Wang. 'We need not talk about it any more now. I must go out for a +few minutes. Wait for me here.' + +(_Continued on page 366._) + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +XI.--CATERPILLARS AND THEIR ENEMIES. + + +The feebler folk among Nature's children have many enemies; against +these they are, as a rule, nearly powerless; but here and there, among +the different groups of animals, we meet with strange devices for +repelling attacks. Though these are by no means always successful, it +seems clear that they are good enough to serve as a fairly sure +protection. This is especially the case with the Caterpillars. + +[Illustration: Fig. 1.--Caterpillars of Procession Moth.] + +There are two methods of defence used by caterpillars. One of these is +the device of squirting noxious fluids from the body; the other is found +in the poisonous hairs and spines which are scattered more or less all +over the body. + +[Illustration: Fig. 2.--Caltrops and Spines of Caterpillars.] + +Those who have taken up the study of butterflies and moths, will do well +to be careful in handling hairy caterpillars, especially those of the +family known as the Bombyces. Some of the members of this family, such +as the Fox-moth and the Brown and Gold-tailed moths, when in the +caterpillar stage are thickly clothed with long stiff hairs, and these, +if the creature be handled, pierce the skin and break off. In +consequence very painful itching and irritation is set up. But this is +nothing to the pain caused by the caterpillars of the wonderful +'Procession moth' (fig. 1). In these caterpillars the poison hairs are +very loosely attached to the body, and studded with exceedingly fine +hooks that curve inwards, as may be seen in the diagram of a magnified +portion of one of the spines (fig. 2, D and E). Partly by adhering to +the skin, and partly by means of a very fine dust with which they are +covered, these hairs set up a very violent inflammation on the skin of +men and animals, which is hard to get rid of. On this account, moreover, +the neighbourhood of the nests of these larvae is dangerous, for the +surrounding air is filled with the hairs and dust borne about by the +wind. These are thus inhaled, and give rise to internal inflammation and +swellings which have sometimes caused death. + +One of the most remarkable of all hairy caterpillars is that of an +American species (fig. 3), burdened by scientific men with the terrible +name--_Megalopyga!_ The shorter hairs are poisonous. + +[Illustration: Fig. 3.--Megalopyga Caterpillar.] + +The caterpillar of our British 'Festoon moth' belongs to a very +remarkable family indeed. All the caterpillars of this group, which is +found in many parts of the world, are very slug-like in form, and many +have an evil reputation as poisoners, though our English species is +happily innocent. A small Australian species has the body armed with +slight reddish knobs, four in the front and four in the hind part of the +body. These knobs can be opened at will, and from them slight rays or +bunches of stings of a yellow colour are thrust out. The wounds which +these darts inflict are very painful. Of one Indian species a collector +records that 'the caterpillar stung with such horrible pain that I sat +in the room almost sick with it, and unable to keep the tears from +running down my cheeks, for more than two hours, applying ammonia all +the time.' + +(_Concluded on page 364._) + + + + +A FAIR-SIZED FIELD. + + +Hugh Martin had come home from Canada, where his father owned a ranch, +on a visit to some English relations. + +Willie Pearse was the cousin nearest him in age, and the two boys became +great friends. + +'It must be a jolly life out there, and money seems to be made much more +quickly than in England,' Willie said one day. 'I wish Father would let +me go out with you.' + +'You would have to make up your mind to work harder than you do here,' +Hugh told him, for he had noticed that his cousin was inclined to be +lazy. + +'Oh, I like that! Why, you were telling me how little there was to do in +the winter, with everything frozen up! I thought that when you were not +having a ripping time with sleighing parties and tobogganing, you just +sat by the fire and read.' + +'Compared with the summer, of course, the winter work is nothing. We +just have to feed the calves every day, and ride round the field where +our stock are wintering, to look up the cattle. But even that is more +than you seem to get through, Will.' + +'Not more than just ride round a field!' cried Willie. 'I should be glad +if that ended my day's work.' + +'Perhaps you do not quite realise the size of what we call a field,' +Hugh said quietly. + +'How many acres?' asked his cousin. + +'Oh, a matter of two thousand acres or so,' was the answer, and then +Willie began to think that if all the little jobs of work were on the +same scale, perhaps only the energetic folk were the sort to go to +Canada, and those who loved their ease had better stay at home. + +M. H. + + + + +A STROLL AMONGST FERNS. + + +We cannot show in Britain such tall and beautiful natives of the fern +tribe as may be found growing freely in tropical countries, but still we +have some fine ferns belonging to our islands. These are much commoner +in some parts than in others, and probably, many years ago, when a great +part of the country was covered with damp forests or woods, there was a +greater abundance of ferns generally than there is now. Indeed, even in +the last few years, some ferns that used to be abundant have become +quite scarce, often owing to the fact that unwise people dig them up, to +carry the plants away from their haunts, and put them in gardens. + +There are, fortunately, some ferns which such thefts do not harm, +because they are plentiful. The well-known bracken, for instance, though +quantities of it may be cut for wrapping or decoration, is not thereby +thinned much, and it covers acres and acres of ground in some woodlands, +especially about the western counties. The West of England is the home +of ferns, big and small; but some southern counties, such as Sussex and +Hampshire, have a good display. In Scotland, again, glens or copses, +often the haunts of wild deer, are green with a thick growth of bracken. + +A well-known writer, who lives where ferns abound, says that the bracken +is the fern of ferns in the British Islands. The shelter of it is a +pleasure and a safeguard too, not only to the tall deer and their fawns, +but to thousands of quadrupeds and birds, whose home is amid the copses, +shady lanes, or moorlands. In sandy wastes, this fern only grows a foot +high; along the paths in woods it will attain to six or seven feet, or +grow taller still in a lofty hedge, or in a clump of supporting trees. +Even in the winter months the ferns have their uses; it is delightful, +after walking over some moist lowland, to come upon a hilly ridge of +ground, where, amongst the birches and the fragrant firs, the brown +ferns grow freely. + +Grand in its growth, but only to be found in a few places, is the Osmund +or Royal Fern, which throws up a tall spike bearing the spores or seeds +of the plant. Sometimes, in moist places, the crown of the root is a +clump of more than a foot high, from which the stem rises. Of late +years, this kingly fern has become still more rare, and happy is the +fern-hunter who comes upon a specimen. + +Who can help admiring the beautiful Lady Fern, which seems to be most at +home when growing near a streamlet or pond? It is stately and graceful, +with large fronds of clear green, and the tips of its sprays bend like +plumes. What is called the Male Fern grows in hedges or banks, and +indeed almost anywhere; a handsome cheery-looking plant, though of +moderate size. It will even manage to live in a London back-garden, or +area, and many cottagers have it amongst the flowers of their small +garden plots. Occasionally, by the side of a copse, we may come upon a +great bed of the male fern, which frequently keeps green all the winter. +Often, about the same spots where the male fern flourishes, the Shield +Fern displays its fronds, larger and broader, but fewer in number, and +prettily toothed along their edges. Fond of damp hollows or the sides of +ditches is the handsome Hart's-tongue Fern, which will also, now and +then, choose to grow on a cracked wall, or perhaps down a well. + +We must not forget the Polypody, which delights to creep amongst the +trees and bushes of a lane, and looks very fresh in June, keeping its +fronds till some sharp frost brings them off. It took the name of +Polypody from its jagged leaves, upon which the seeds or spores appear +in bright orange spots. The humble Wall Rue and the Wall Spleenwort grow +on walls chiefly, sometimes on rocky banks. The true Maiden-hair Fern is +amongst the rarest of our native ferns. What is so commonly grown by +gardeners, and used for bouquets and buttonholes, is the Black +Maiden-hair, a rather stronger plant. + + + + +THE CONTENTED PANSY. + + + 'I wish,' said the Pansy, 'I had not been planted + To catch the full force of the wind from the east; + But, somehow, the gardener takes it for granted + That that's not a hardship I mind in the least. + 'Twas all very well while the laurel was growing, + Her glittering leaves were a capital shield; + But now she is gone, and the chilly winds blowing + Can whistle unchecked from the neighbouring field. + + 'The pinks and the roses are grandly protected, + They're touched but by winds from the south and the west; + Yet here, in exposure, I'm always expected + To blossom in colours my brightest and best. + The sun on my home his warm light seldom squanders, + And only when night is beginning to fall; + While if through the garden the honey-bee wanders, + He never looks twice at my corner at all. + + 'But light is my heart as the fairest of roses, + For yesterday morning, in kindliest tone, + I heard some one say, who was gathering posies, + "I'm fond of that pansy that blossoms alone." + Just think of it! Some one has noticed me growing! + I don't want the wind from the south and the west, + And, spite of the hurricane bitterly blowing, + I'll blossom in colours the brightest and best.' + + + + +HOW HETAIS WORE HIS MEDAL. + +A True Story. + + +Hetais was a French sailor, a carpenter of the _Ville de Paris_, and he +and his ship-mates took part with our soldiers in the siege of +Sebastopol in 1854, where Hetais, having shown great gallantry during +one of the sorties, was adjudged that coveted decoration, the _medaille +militaire_--a medal that is only given to privates and non-commissioned +officers. + +The presentation of this medal was to be made on a certain evening, and +on the morning, as he and his mates were on duty in the trenches, the +chief subject of conversation was the honour that had befallen Hetais. + +He was a modest, brave-hearted fellow, and though much pleased at the +prospect of his medal, was pleased, too, to think of the treat he meant +to give his comrades to celebrate the event. + +'Look here,' he said to his particular chum, 'I have just drawn out all +the money owing to me, and I mean you fellows to have a good, hot supper +to-night at the canteen, and I foot the bill!' and as he spoke he pulled +out a handful of silver from his pocket and showed it with a laugh to +his friend. + +Hot suppers were a rarity in that camp, and the very thought of such a +treat was cheering to the half-starved men. + +'You are a good fellow, Hetais,' said one of the men, 'and you deserve +your luck.' + +'Hold your tongue, you silly fellow,' said Hetais, with a good-natured +thump on the speaker's back. 'Get on with your coffee-making, and do not +talk nonsense!' + +'All right,' said the man, cautiously lifting his head above the shelter +of the trench, so as to see what the Russians were about. 'The "Moscos"' +(so the French termed the enemy) 'seem keeping quiet to-day, and we +shall be able to enjoy our coffee in peace,' he continued. + +A fire was lighted, and the water put on to boil in a saucepan, the men +all sitting round in eagerness, for it was bitterly cold in the +trenches, and a hot cup, or rather tin, of coffee seemed to warm and +cheer them better than anything else. + +'Now then,' at last said the coffee-maker, 'hold out your mess-tins, and +we will divide fairly.' + +Every man held out his mess-tin--but not one drop of coffee was to be +drunk by any of them, for at that very moment a bomb from the Russian +battery landed in their midst, upsetting the saucepan of coffee and +exploding in the midst of the little crowd of men. + +It seemed as if none could escape! Yet, strange to say--for this is a +true story--of all that group, no one was hurt, except the brave Hetais, +whose head had been all but blown away by the bursting of the bomb. + +It is impossible to describe the grief and consternation of his +comrades, who felt, one and all, that each could have been better spared +than the man who lay dead at their feet. + +Just then the officer in charge of the party came up, and the senior man +told him how Hetais had met his death. The officer was no less sorry +than the men, for Hetais was popular with all ranks. + +'Poor fellow! he was a brave man if there ever was one,' said the +officer. 'Carry his body back to camp, my lads; he shall be honoured in +death, if he has just missed it in life,' for the officer was thinking +of the medal and the ceremony of presentation which was to have taken +place that evening. + +The men extemporised a sort of bier out of a litter on which the dead +man was lying and their muskets, and thus they reverently carried him +back to camp, the relief party presenting arms as the funeral procession +passed by them. + +When the General in command was informed of the death of Hetais, he +issued the following order to the troops: + +'I was to have presented Hetais, of the _Ville de Paris_, with the +_medaille militaire_, and his untimely death must not deprive him of +this honour. I shall fasten the medal on him at his burial.' + +A few hours later, all the sailors and soldiers who could be spared from +the trenches were drawn up in a hollow square outside the camp around +the body of Hetais, who, wrapped in his cloak, slept his last calm sleep +on the rough litter in which he had been carried from the trenches. + +The deep silence was at last broken by the loud voice of the commanding +officer: 'Present arms!' Then he took off his helmet, and followed by +another officer, who carried the medal, he advanced towards the bier, +and read out the brief account of the gallant action which had gained +Hetais his medal. + +Then, taking the medal from the hand of the subaltern, he fastened it on +to the cloak of the sailor, and, turning to the assembled soldiers and +sailors, he thus addressed them: + +'A glorious death has ended a noble life,' he said, in a loud, clear +voice, which could be heard by all; 'but death, though it has robbed us +of a brave comrade, shall not rob him of the honour due to his services. +In the name of the General commanding the forces in the East, I confer +on our dead comrade the _medaille militaire_!' + +Then all ranks passed in turn, bare-headed, past the still figure of +Hetais, lying all unconscious of the honour done to him; and thus were +the last honours paid to a brave man. + +[Illustration: "The commanding officer advanced towards the bier."] + +[Illustration: "'How would you like to earn twenty pounds reward?'"] + + + + +TWENTY POUNDS REWARD. + + +It was the visit to Dan Webster which brought it all about; but for the +fact that the handle of Charlie's bicycle got badly bent, so that only +the village blacksmith could put it right, the most exciting incident +which ever befell the boys would probably never have taken place. + +It happened thus. + +'Dan,' said Charlie, as he and his brother Sydney were waiting while the +blacksmith finished a job he was at work on when they arrived, 'how +would you like to earn twenty pounds reward?' + +'I should like it amazingly well, sir,' was the reply; 'a third of that +sum even would be a godsend to me.' + +'How would you spend it?' asked Sydney, with an amused smile. + +A serious look came into old Dan's face. 'I'd send my daughter away to +the seaside for a change,' he said. 'The doctor tells me it would do her +more good than all his medicines. But what's all this,' he asked, 'about +twenty pounds reward? I suppose it's some joke of yours, young +gentlemen?' + +'It's no joke,' said Charlie; 'at least, Lady Winterton does not think +so. She is on a visit to our house, you know; and this morning she +discovered that she had lost a valuable necklace. Father was so angry +that such a thing should have happened that he at once offered twenty +pounds reward for the recovery of the necklace.' + +Dan thought seriously awhile. Then he said, 'I wonder if the young chap +who roused me up this morning at six o'clock, because his horse had cast +a shoe, had anything to do with it?' + +Both boys were instantly on the alert. 'What was he like?' they asked, +in a breath. + +Dan described the stranger as minutely as he could. 'He had a small bag +slung round him,' he finished, 'and seemed in a great hurry to be off.' + +'That's the thief, you may depend upon it,' said Charlie. 'If we can +only track him, Dan, you shall share the profits.' + +Dan laughed. 'He didn't look much like a thief, now I come to think of +it,' said he. 'He had too honest a face for that.' + +'Oh, you never know,' was Sydney's comment. 'I dare say he's a thorough +bad 'un, if the truth is known. Which way did he go, Dan, when he left +you?' + +The blacksmith then told all he knew, and the boys, as soon as Charlie's +bicycle was ready, started off, as they fondly hoped, on the track of +the thief. After a good long ride, they suddenly came upon the object of +their search. He was leisurely taking photographs on the outskirts of a +wood. No horse was visible, so he had evidently been home to breakfast, +and had started forth again. + +As the lads drew near he eyed them with interest, his idea being to +photograph them. + +Charlie, plucking up all the courage he possessed, went straight to the +point. 'I wonder if you would mind,' said he, growing very red, 'if we +looked into that case of yours?' + +'And what for, young stranger, may I ask?' was the reply, given with a +slightly American accent. + +'Because--because,' stammered Charlie, 'we think you have something +there belonging to Lady Winterton.' + +'Upon my word,' laughed the young fellow, 'you are a "cute" chap. As a +matter of fact, I have, but how did you know it?' + +'We guessed it,' said Sydney, thinking it was time he put a spoke in the +wheel; 'and now, if you will give it up to us, without making any fuss +about it, we won't give you in charge.' + +'Very kind of you, I am sure,' replied the thief. 'How am I to reward +you for your goodness?' + +'Oh, Father is going to give us the reward!' cried Charlie, very pleased +with himself. 'It's twenty pounds, you know.' + +'Is it, indeed?' said the young man, looking rather mystified. 'Tell me +all about it, and what you are going to do with the money?' + +There was something so winning about this innocent-looking criminal that +the boys grew quite confidential, telling him the history of the whole +morning. + +'Dan said you had too honest a face for a thief,' said Sydney, at the +close of the recital. 'I wonder what made you do it?' + +The stranger was nearly doubled up with laughter, which he turned away +to hide. 'Well, you see,' he replied, as gravely as he could, 'Lady +Winterton left it about so temptingly that I really couldn't help it. +It's my first offence, though.' + +'Yes, so I should say,' Charlie's voice was eager as he spoke, 'and we +should like you to get off, awfully. You are much too nice to go to +prison.' + +'Thanks, old chap, you're very kind,' said the thief; 'if you really +mean to let me off scot-free I will be making a move. Take this +case'--here drawing forth from his satchel a small package--'to Lady +Winterton, with my regrets and apologies.' + + * * * * * + +'We have got the necklace!' So cried Charlie, as with flushed, +triumphant faces the boys entered the dining-room, where the whole +family party was assembled together. + +'My dear boy, that's impossible,' replied Lady Winterton, 'for I found +it myself, only ten minutes ago, behind a chest of drawers.' + +'Then what is this?' cried poor Charlie, looking very surprised. He then +told his story, which was certainly a very strange one. However, the +mystery was soon cleared up. The case contained nothing but photographs, +one of which was a portrait of Lady Winterton taken with her daughter, +Alice. Clearly this was the theft to which the stranger (a wealthy, if +somewhat eccentric, young American) alluded. He was Alice Winterton's +accepted lover, and, half in earnest, half in jest, had taken the +photograph for his own use. + +The reward was not paid, after all. But when Mr. Hereford and Lady +Winterton heard, from Charlie's story, of the blacksmith's trouble, they +put their heads together, with the result that Dan Webster's daughter +spent a happy time in a seaside home, and came back very grateful, and +quite restored to health. The amateur detectives had done some good, +after all. + + + + +WHY THE SEA SOBS. + + + The Sea no father has, + Nor any mother: + A trouble quite enough + One's mind to bother. + That's why, my dear, + Where'er it be, + We sometimes hear + A sobbing Sea. + + If we no fathers had, + Or loving mothers, + No little sisters fair, + No baby-brothers, + We'd shed a tear, + (Poor You, poor Me,) + And sigh, 'Oh, dear,' + Just like the Sea. + + + + +WONDERFUL CAVERNS. + +XI.--THE GROTTOES OF ADELSBERG + + +About twenty miles north-east of Trieste, which stands at the north of +the Adriatic Sea, is the little town of Adelsberg. It is a market town, +and would have no more claim to notice than thousands of similar places +in Europe, had it not chanced to have been built within a mile of one of +the natural wonders of the world. + +Thousands of years ago, when Europe was covered with dense forests, and +savage man was struggling for existence with savage man and yet more +savage beast, living in rude huts and ignorant of any kind of +civilisation, Nature was hard at work deep below the slopes of those +Adelsberg mountains. Age after age, with her simple tools of water, +lime, and carbonic acid, she dug, scooped, carved, and built, fashioning +by slow degrees vaulted chambers, halls with lofty domes, arches, and +galleries, all gleaming like frosted silver set with diamonds, far more +wonderful than Aladdin's palace, or the marble halls of the _Arabian +Nights_. And all the while, even when Christianity and civilisation +spread over the country, no one thought of the beautiful world down +below those grassy slopes; though now and again some one might wonder +why a deep basin in the hills, where according to tradition a lake once +existed, should have been turned into dry pasture, with only the little +river, Poyk or Pinka, running through it; or some more inquiring mind +might have been puzzled to know why that little river should suddenly +bury itself in the ground and vanish utterly from sight. + +At last some enterprising being, a boy most likely, climbed into the +fissure down which the waters went, most probably in the summer-time +when the stream was low, and there discovered a cavern nearly three +hundred feet long, now known as the Old Grotto. For ninety years this +was one of the sights of the country; and then a large piece of +stalactite was broken from the end, and the entrance to a far more +superb cavern, known as the New Grotto, lay bare. + +This New Grotto is ten times larger than the old one. It is furnished +with stalactites and stalagmites of huge size and of every imaginable +shape, forming arches, pillars, cornices, and fringes of exquisite +beauty. The roof and walls are covered with lacework and pendants of +crystals, to which great fissures, leading into narrow galleries, form +backgrounds of dense shadow. The ornamental work was effected from +outside by damp lime and carbonic acid, but the actual excavator was +simply the river Poyk, which in time drained the lake and carried its +waters through soft spots in the rock below. Every little drop that +poured in did something of the digging process, and when the snows on +the mountains melted, and great floods came to help, the river was able +to tear away the rocks above, beside, and beneath its channel. +Sometimes, for a long time together, it found itself imprisoned and +could get no further, and then it would whirl round and round, boiling +with anger and beating against its rocky walls, until it had hewn out +quite a lofty chamber. Then sooner or later it would reach some softer +formation which would yield, and the great volume of water would rush +through, tearing down everything in its way, until it last it found +itself once again in the sunshine. + +Now, with its work in the Adelsberg Grottoes done, the river Poyk is +taking a well-earned rest, and flows gently through the Grottoes, +reflecting in its waters the lofty bridges and vaulted roofs hewn out by +its former toil. Not that the Poyk has grown lazy! It only desires fresh +worlds to conquer; after enjoying a little run in the daylight, it +changes its name to the Laybach, and again plunges into the Grottoes of +Reifnitz, where with all its old energy it is working as hard as ever to +make the Laybach Caves as celebrated as those of Adelsberg. + +Various animals live in these caverns, of which the most celebrated is +the 'Proteus,' a creature which has greatly perplexed naturalists. At +first sight it looks like a lizard, but its movements are those of a +fish. The head, lower part of the body, and tail resemble an eel, but it +has no fins, and its breathing organs are quite unlike those of fishes. +Round its neck is a ruffle, which seems to help it to breathe, although +it has perfect lungs and can breathe, as well as move, equally +comfortably on land and in water. The front feet are like hands, and +each has three fingers, whilst the back limbs have only two. The eyes +are very tiny, like those of the rat or mole; its mouth is well set with +teeth, proving it to be a beast of prey, and its organs of smell are +fully developed. A great authority has declared its spine to be like +those of the monster animals of pre-historic ages known as Saurians. The +most extraordinary part of the Proteus' history is that it seems +perfectly able to live without food. It has never been seen to eat in +captivity, and one has been kept alive for years by occasionally +changing the water in which it lives. These animals were originally +discovered in the Grottoes of Laybach, and later on at Adelsberg, being +rare in dry seasons, but plentiful after heavy rains. + +HELENA HEATH. + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +XI.--CATERPILLARS AND THEIR ENEMIES. + +(_Concluded from page 357._) + + +The caterpillar of the North American Great Peacock moth (fig. 4) is +armed with numerous tufts of prickles ending in minute black points +which pierce the hand if touched, and cause severe pain. These spines, +as shown in the illustration (fig. 2, A B, on page 357) are hollow, and +filled with liquid poison. 'A' is the portion which breaks off; 'B' the +hollow base which contains the poison. + +In some few caterpillars the poison spines take the form of balls armed +with short prickles and one large spike; hence they are known as caltrop +spines (fig. 2, C), from their likeness to the cruel weapons, known as +caltrops, which used to be scattered over the ground in time of war to +repel the attacks of cavalry; the spikes forced their way into the +horses' feet when trampled on, and so disabled them. + +The spines of the caterpillar of our Oak Eggar moth are very brittle, +and in handling these insects, great care must be taken, as cases are +known of blindness having been caused by the spines being carried into +the eyes by the fingers. + +Let us now turn to the liquid squirts with which some caterpillars are +provided. Our Spurge-hawk caterpillar, for example, when threatened, +squirts from the mouth a spray of poison. In our illustration (fig. 5) +it is shown repelling the attack of the dreaded ichneumon fly by means +of this spray. The quaint Puss moth, which many _Chatterbox_ readers +must have seen, can squirt out an irritant fluid, generally supposed to +be formic acid, from the mouth, when alarmed, and this, if it enters the +eye, causes acute pain. + +[Illustration: Fig. 4.--North American Great Peacock.] + +The caterpillars of the Swallow-tailed moths, when irritated, give out +an offensive smell, but they are unable to 'spray.' + +Many beetles have the power of forcing drops of blood from a minute hole +in one of the legs. This blood is saturated either with a fluid which +causes a burning sensation on everything it touches, or with an +intolerable odour; in either case the result is the same--they are given +a wide berth by all who have discovered their power. The little +lady-bird beetle, for example, sends out, when frightened, a tiny drop +of a yellow fluid from the 'knee-joint,' which has a smell like opium. +The Javanese 'violin-beetle' gives off a fluid which is said to paralyse +the fingers for twenty-four hours. + +[Illustration: Fig. 5.--Caterpillar of Spurge-hawk Moth fighting +Ichneumon Fly.] + +W. P. PYCRAFT, F.Z.S., A.L.S. + + + + +THE BLACK SWAN. + + +The Black Swan is an Australian bird, and was not known in Europe until +that continent began to be explored, although black swans had been often +spoken of before that time as a kind of fabulous monster. The ordinary +white, or mute, swan, which graces our rivers and lakes, has been +admired, and even protected by laws, for many centuries, and its plumage +is so beautifully and uniformly snowy that we can hardly be surprised if +people thought that all swans must be white, and should regard a black +swan as impossible, like the two-necked swan sometimes painted upon +inn-signs. But travellers have discovered many strange animals in +unexplored countries, and we now know that there are not only black +swans, but even swans that have a black neck and a white body. + +The plumage of the black swan, with the exception of the quill +feathers, which are white, is entirely black. The bill and the skin +between the eyes are a beautiful red, which contrasts handsomely with +the black feathers. The tail of the bird is very short, and, next to the +colour of the plumage, this is the chief peculiarity which distinguishes +it from the white swan. + +[Illustration: The Black Swan of Australia.] + +The black swan frequents the swamps and secluded bays on the Australian +coast. It is not a very shy bird, and is frequently seen by the +sportsman and the camper-out. It enjoys the companionship of its kind, +and congregates usually in small flocks. August and September are, it is +believed, the breeding months, and shortly before this the swans leave +the swamps and seek the nesting-grounds, which are usually on the +islands in the bays. Western Port Bay, not far from Melbourne, is one of +their favourite haunts. The nest is a collection of reeds, and in this +the female swan lays five or six eggs of a whitish-grey colour, and a +little smaller than those of our white swan. + +The black swan is rather strong upon the wing, and, when flying, it +frequently utters a musical cry. But, being a heavy bird, its flight is +very exhausting, and it appears to have more confidence in its webbed +feet than its wings. It is said that when it is startled it tries to +escape by swimming, if it can, rather than by taking flight. As the +birds breed upon islands on the coast, they may occasionally swim out, +or be drifted out, to sea. A short time ago, two black swans were picked +up off Norfolk Island. They were miles away from the nearest part of +Australia, and they must have been driven from their native land by +winds and currents until they were lost. They were greatly exhausted +when taken up, but a bath in fresh water and a good supply of food soon +put them right again. + +This incident is not only interesting because it shows the endurance of +the swans and how long a journey they may sometimes make almost by +accident, but because it illustrates the way in which animals which are +natives of one country may be carried to a new one. If these two swans +could have continued on to Norfolk Island, which is about nine hundred +miles from Australia, and, after arriving there, could have recovered +their health, made a nest, and reared a brood of young ones, then there +might have been black swans in Norfolk Island as well as in Australia. +These swans were probably too much exhausted to have accomplished this +long journey, but we have many reasons for believing that animals have +often been unwillingly driven by winds and currents to new homes across +the seas, and have thus helped to extend their species over a larger +portion of the earth. + +W. A. ATKINSON. + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 356._) + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +When Ping Wang returned, he locked the door and signed to his friends to +come and sit in the middle of the room. + +'I have bought some offerings for us to make to the ghosts,' he said, +and produced from his pocket a handful of pieces of coloured paper. + +'It doesn't look very satisfying food,' Charlie remarked, 'but I dare +say that it is good enough for ghosts.' + +'This is not food,' Ping Wang replied--and, as he spoke, he took from +the heap several round pieces of paper--'it is money. Our ghosts, +according to the belief of our wise men, lead a life, in some invisible +world, which is very much like what they lived here; but, as they don't +appear to have a mint, we offer them money--this money. To-night we +shall have the pleasure of burning those pieces of round paper, which my +countrymen believe pass in the form of money into the ghosts' possession +as they disappear from our sight. We will not, however, confine our +gifts to money. Here are houses, carts, wheelbarrows, horses, and suits +of clothes, all made of paper, to be burnt. The ghosts, my countrymen +think, will find them very useful.' + +Ping Wang was now in the humour for talking, and held his friends +interested nearly the whole of the afternoon. Just before darkness came +on they had some tea, and then paid the landlord and departed. + +The people by now were flocking, or had already gone, to that part of +the town where the feast was to be given, and consequently the Pages and +Ping Wang found the track round the ten-foot wall of Chin Choo's house +almost deserted. For this they were very thankful indeed, as it gave +them a better opportunity for examining the wall. + +'This will be the place,' Ping Wang said when they had gone about +half-way round the wall. He pointed to several holes in it just large +enough to insert the toes or fingers. + +After taking note of the surroundings so that they would be able to find +the spot again, they continued their journey until they reached the +place from which they had started. + +'Now for the feast,' Ping Wang said, quietly, and they started off in +the direction of the ghosts' feast. It was a merry, jovial crowd they +joined. Most of the people were carrying provisions as well as offerings +for the ghosts, and Ping Wang, not wishing that he and his friends +should be conspicuous, purchased three legs of pork. Then they walked on +again, but, before long, came to a large and excited crowd gathered +round a poster on the outside wall of a joss-house or temple. Ping Wang, +leaving the Pages in a dark corner, hurried forward to read the placard, +and, to his horror, found that his fears were realised. It was an +anti-foreign poster, and the following is what he read:-- + +'We publicly announce that the foreigners who entered our Middle Kingdom +many years ago have made plans to seize our territory. They ignore the +teachings of Confucius, and have already taught the people their false +religion, and have practised their sorceries upon them. Now the +right-minded and superior men of our land are boiling with rage at the +harm which the foreigners have done, and are determined to kill them. +Every foreigner must be killed, and every house, shop, and church which +they inhabit must be destroyed. Any one who shelters a foreigner will be +killed, and all converts to the foreign religion who do not recant +immediately will be executed. Kill the foreigners who are hoping to +seize our country and introduce their barbarian customs! Kill the men +who have made friends with them! Kill the foreigners! Kill the +foreigners!' + +Ping Wang turned away. He knew that the placard would have the desired +effect of rousing the people to a state of frenzy. Already hundreds of +people were shouting, 'Kill the foreigners!' + +The cry was, by this time, familiar to Charlie and Fred, and there was +no need for them to ask Ping Wang what was printed on the poster. + +By a slight movement of his head, Ping Wang signed to the Pages to +follow him. He walked a few yards down the crowded street, fearing every +moment that his friends would be detected by the mob and killed before +his eyes, and then turned into a narrow lane, dark and almost deserted. +The people had evidently flocked into the main road. He sighed with +thankfulness, and, having glanced round and seen that the Pages were +following, he quickened his speed. It was some years since he had +traversed the bye-streets of his native town, but they were not changed +to any great extent, and he had no difficulty in finding his way. He led +his friends through street after street--gloomy and squalid places, but +happily deserted by the residents. At last they came into a main road +which led to the town-gates; not the ones at which they had entered +early that morning, but those on the other side. He could see them in +the distance. They were open, and he was tempted to lead his friends +straight out into the country, and away from the danger which threatened +them. At any rate, it seemed to him that he would be doing an unfriendly +action if he did not tell them that escape was still easy. + +'There are the gates,' he said in an undertone. 'Shall we go out and +hurry off to Barton?' + +'No,' Charlie said, firmly; 'not until we have got your treasure.' + +'But do you know what was on that poster?' + +'We have a very good idea, I fancy. An order to kill all foreigners, was +it not?' + +'Yes. Shall we escape?' + +'No. Hurry on to Chin Choo's.' + +Ping Wang again led them through narrow, dirty streets until they caught +sight of Chin Choo's house. When they were about fifty yards from it, +they saw the gates thrown open and the mandarin's palanquin borne out. +From the shouts of the man with the whip who ran ahead of it, they knew +that Chin Choo was inside. + +'That is good,' Ping Wang whispered. 'Now that Chin Choo is out, the +servants will start gambling and smoking opium. We need not fear being +disturbed by them.' + +In less than five minutes they arrived at the spot where they had +decided to start their undertaking. They looked up and down the road, +and, seeing no one about, Ping Wang climbed the wall. + +'It is very easy,' he said, when he reached the top; 'the drop on the +other side is only about six feet.' + +He disappeared into Chin Choo's grounds and Fred at once scaled the +wall. Charlie was about to follow him, and had already climbed five or +six feet from the ground, when he heard some one approaching, and, +before he was able to decide whether to jump down or continue climbing, +his left foot was seized and tugged so viciously that he came down with +a rush on top of his assailant. + +In an instant he was on his feet again, ready to defend himself from any +further attack. Looking down at the person on whom he had fallen, he saw +to his astonishment that it was the cart-woman who had caused him so +much annoyance before. + +She lay glaring at Charlie, speechless and panting. But he had barely +recognised her when he heard a shout of 'Foreigners!' and looking round +saw the woman's husband running at him. He jumped quickly aside, and to +defend himself snatched up one of the legs of pork, which had been left +on the ground. + +He rushed at the Chinaman, who, being a great coward, immediately turned +about and fled. But Charlie was upon him in a moment, and with the leg +of pork dealt him a blow on the back of the head, which sent him +sprawling on the ground. A knife fell from his hand and Charlie at once +seized it. The woman, seeing what had befallen her husband, scrambled to +her feet and toddled to him shouting, 'Foreigners!' as she went. To +prevent her being heard Fred clapped his hand over her mouth, and, in +spite of her biting it, kept it there. + +Meanwhile Ping Wang and Fred had scrambled back, hearing the noise. They +joined Charlie, and between them managed to tie the Chinaman's pigtail +round the woman's neck, so that neither could move without difficulty. + +'Now let us leave them,' Ping Wang said, and they started running. But +before they had gone many yards they heard the Chinaman and his wife +shouting frantically, 'Foreigners! Kill the foreigners!' + +Their shouts were heard by others, also, and a man rushed forward to +stop them, but Charlie raised his knife threateningly and the fellow +ran. Nevertheless, he too shouted 'Foreigners!' and, gathering together +some friends, started in pursuit. At every few yards others joined in +the chase. + +'Where are you going to take us?' Charlie asked of Ping Wang, after +glancing back at the mob pursuing them. + +'To the gates,' Ping Wang answered. 'This is our way.' + +They turned into one of the narrow streets which they had traversed +earlier in the evening, and, as they ran at full speed along it, here +and there men came out of their houses to see what the noise meant. They +heard the shouts of 'Foreigners!' but the average Chinaman has a great +respect for his skin, and consequently not one of the men who saw the +Pages and Ping Wang rush by attempted to stop them. + +'I'm done up,' Ping Wang gasped before long; 'our only chance is to +hide.' + +The next street was a short one, and the Pages were surprised after what +Ping Wang had said about being tired to see him sprint along it. They +followed close on his heels, and when he stopped at the end of it, they +did the same. Instead of crossing the wide road which faced them, Ping +Wang turned to the right, and after walking quickly for about thirty +yards made another turn to the right which brought them into a narrow +street running parallel with the one down which they had sprinted. There +was no one visible; all the residents were evidently at the feast. Ping +Wang stopped at the second house and pressed his hand against the door, +which opened. He peeped into the place, and, seeing no one, entered +stealthily, the Pages following quickly and equally cautiously. As soon +as they were in, Ping Wang shot the bolt of the door. It was a dark and +dirty room in which the fugitives found themselves, and by the faint +light of a lantern they could see that it was a poverty-stricken place. + +(_Continued on page 374._) + +[Illustration: "Charlie snatched up one of the legs of pork."] + +[Illustration: "He steered his balloon round the Eiffel Tower."] + + + + +CRUISERS IN THE CLOUDS. + +XI.--MODERN AERONAUTS AND THEIR AIR-SHIPS. + + +At an electrical exhibition held at Paris in 1881, most of the sightseers +were very interested in a little model balloon which had been made by +two famous balloonists, Messrs. Gaston and Albert Tissandier. It was +quite unlike any balloon ever seen before. The silk bag for containing +the gas was long and pointed at either end, and floated horizontally in +the air, so that at a little distance it was not unlike a fish without a +tail, though a sheet of canvas, shaped like a fish's tail, was placed +beneath the balloon at the rear end to be used as a rudder. Suspended by +a number of slender ropes, which met under the centre of the gas-bag, +were the car for the sailors and a small electric engine for driving a +powerful screw, the wings of which striking against the air would propel +the 'ship' at the rate of some nine feet a second. The baby balloon may +be said to have set the example for all modern air-ships, though others +something like it had been built before. Two years later Messrs. Tissandier +made a large copy of their model, and ascended on October 8th, 1883. As +the screw succeeded in driving the balloon forward at a greater speed +than that at which the wind was blowing, they were able to steer a +course, just as the steamboats on the St. Lawrence River are able to +shoot the rapids in safety by putting on full steam and over-racing the +current. Messrs. Tissandier repeated their experiment in November, 1883, +and actually drove their balloon against the wind for a short distance. +As night overtook them while on this triumphant journey they did not +attempt to return by balloon to Paris, but descended in the country two +hours after leaving the capital. + +Such was the first successful effort to steer a balloon, and it was not +long before many aeronauts were following in their steps. In 1884 the +air-ship 'France,' with Captains Krebs and Renard on board, was watched +by a large crowd as it sailed from Meudon, near Paris, and after a +wonderful flight came back against the wind to the place from which it +started. Five more similar voyages were made, and in each the 'France' +showed great obedience to the rudder and sail. But all these experiments +were very expensive, and involved great danger. It was found, moreover, +that the machinery necessary for driving the screw could not be made +light enough to be really suitable. Thus there was not much heard about +steerable balloons until some years later, when M. Santos Dumont began +his cruises--and many strange adventures he has had. + +Instead of the electric engine used by the Tissandiers, he employed the +small petrol engine out of a motor tricycle. With this he started on +his aerial voyages. But before we follow him we must look at his ship +for a moment. From each end of the long balloon he allows a cord to +hang, supporting a small weight. These are to enable him to alter his +course upward or downward. If he wishes to travel upwards, he pulls into +the car, by means of a thin cord, the weight which is hanging in front. +This, of course, allows the head of the balloon to rise, at the same +time changing the angle of the screw in the rear so that it drives the +balloon upward. When he pulls the rear weight into the car, the reverse +takes place. The car, the engine, and the screw are all suspended from +the silk envelope by piano wires, so that it looks, from the ground, as +though M. Santos Dumont were moving about in a spider's web. + +On one of the first cruises the balloon behaved very well while floating +at a great height, but when he descended into denser atmosphere, the gas +contracted in the long thin bag, and he saw with horror that it was +doubling up 'like a pocket-knife.' This made some of the cords so much +tighter than others that at any moment they might cut through the silk +and send him to the earth like a stone. Yet it was no use throwing out +ballast, though to rise into thinner atmosphere might have put the +balloon right again. 'I _must_ descend sooner or later,' thought the +aeronaut, 'so why not now?' + +Beneath him lay a grassy stretch of country on which a number of boys +were flying their kites. As he rapidly drew nearer, M. Santos Dumont, +leaning from his basket, called to them to seize the guide-rope, which +had already reached the ground, and _run with it as fast as they could +against the wind_. The boys were sharp-witted, and obeyed at once. The +speed of the descent was checked by the rush of wind, and the voyager +landed in safety. + +Misadventures of this sort have only increased the keenness with which +M. Santos Dumont pursues his studies. The principal triumph he has yet +secured was won some three years ago, when he steered his balloon round +the Eiffel Tower and back to the starting-point. It only meant a +distance of some fourteen miles in all, but it carried him to fame and +honour in half an hour, and the Government of his native country +(Brazil) had a gold medal struck to commemorate the event. Never before +had the power of navigating the skies been proved so thoroughly. But it +was not accomplished without several unsuccessful attempts. On one +occasion the engine stopped when the winning-post was only a few yards +away. Another time, the balloon lost gas through a faulty valve, and +some of the suspension wires slackened so much that they caught in the +whirling screw, which was beating itself into shreds. The traveller +instantly stopped the engine, and found himself the next moment drifting +dangerously near to the Eiffel Tower. It was safer under the +circumstances to let the ship sink, and a few minutes later, like a +vessel being driven on the rocks, the aeronaut's car crashed against the +roof of a large hotel, the framework of the air-ship lodging itself at +last over a deep courtyard, with its occupant in mid-air. From this +perilous position he was rescued by a party of firemen. In each of +these misadventures M. Santos Dumont reads some lesson for the +improvement of his ships, so that the day _may_ come when he will be +able to show us an aerial vessel in which even timid people might travel +without anxiety. + + + + +THE SLATE'S STORY. + + + Said the Pencil to the Slate, + 'We've been strangers, sir, of late, + And 'tis many weeks, I fancy, since we met; + There was surely something wrong + To have parted us so long; + But _if_ I've heard the reason, I forget.' + + Then the Slate looked blank, and said, + With a voice of pain and dread, + 'Ah, yes! for days we've both been in disgrace, + For Master Johnny Scott + Shunned the lesson he had got, + And used us both to draw a funny face.' + + 'Now, of course, I needn't say + That such deeds will never pay-- + A fact which Johnny realises now-- + For the picture that he drew, + With a sunny smile or two, + Was rubbed out with a frown upon his brow. + + 'And the teacher said that day + We should both be put away + Till Johnny understood his duty plain, + And _that_ he now has done, + For I hear his laugh of fun: + The cloud has passed, and--here we are again!' + + + + +PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS. + +16.--ANAGRAMS: NAMES OF FAMOUS MONARCHS. + +1. A deer next; lag at her. +2. Real name C. H. +3. Quiz! he bet an eel. +4. A racer! Shut in foes. +5. I. E. into tan tear me. +6. Part coal E. + +C. J. B. + +[_Answer on page 395._] + + +ANSWER TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 339. + +15.--W a l t e R + O A + L i n n e T + V I + E r m e l O + R C + H a w a i I + A N + M e d u s A + P T + T a h i t I + O O + N o r m a N + +Right post--Wolverhampton. +Left post--Ratiocination. + +Round 1. Walter. +Round 2. Linnet. +Round 3. Ermelo. +Round 4. Hawaii. +Round 5. Medusa. +Round 6. Tahiti. +Round 7. Norman. + + + + +PRESENCE OF MIND. + + +A general had been very unfortunate in a battle, and his defeat so +preyed on his mind that he lost his reason. He had to be kept confined +in a room in his own house, and an attendant was always near to wait +upon him, and to prevent him from doing harm. One day, an officer who +had been paying him a friendly visit happened to leave his sword and +scabbard in the general's room. As soon as the officer had gone, the +general seized the sword. Then he rushed at the man who attended him, +saying, 'Now I can cut off your head.' The attendant answered, 'Oh, sir, +anybody can cut off one head; it would be a stroke more worthy of you to +cut off two. Wait a moment till I go for another.' To this the general +consented, and the man quickly made his escape from the room. Needless +to say, he returned with help and overcame the madman; he owed his life +to his ready presence of mind in this strange peril. + + + + +ANIMAL MAKESHIFTS. + +True Anecdotes. + +V.--FRIENDS IN NEED. + + +The goodwill shown by one animal to another in time of need is an +example to us all. Very lowly creatures are able to understand, and are +ready to help each other like brothers, with no other motive than their +comrade's need, and no other reward than the power to relieve it. + +There is a kind of beetle which makes a ball or pellet of manure, in the +middle of which it places its egg. This it rolls towards a hole +previously dug, and drops it in. One of these beetles was seen painfully +toiling to roll its little ball out of a cart-rut, into which it had +tumbled; he was trying with all his tiny might, but all in vain. After +pushing it up the side a great many times, the ball rolling back again, +he went off to a manure-heap close by, and came back with two other +beetles, his neighbours. All three set to work shoulder to shoulder, and +between them shoved the ball out of the rut. Having done as they would +be done by, the assistants then returned to their own business. + +Sir Frederick Doyle, while watching some wasps eating plums on his +trees, knocked one down without killing it. The wasp fell into a large +spider's web below. To his surprise a fellow-wasp instantly flew down to +the rescue. He poised himself close to the spider's web, whirling his +wings till they looked like glittering rainbows, so fast that their +shape could not be seen. This was to prevent them from being caught in +the sticky web, and all the time he was striking deft and rapid blows at +the threads that held his friend fast. At length he cut him out, but the +poor rescued insect fell down to die upon the ground. The observer adds: +'I was so much struck with this proof of a heart as well as a brain in +the case of wasps that I not only spared the "V.C." wasp who rescued his +friend, but also the rest of the troop, and left the plums to their +fate.' + +The weasel, that terrible foe to rabbits and rats, is not famous for +good temper, yet a pretty tale is told of one of them. A gentleman was +riding home, when his horse trod on a weasel, which was unable to get +out of the way in time. The poor little animal's spine seemed to be +hurt, and it could not move its hind legs. Presently another weasel came +out of the hedge by the roadside, and went up to the injured one. After +carefully inspecting it, the second weasel picked up the first and +carried it to the side of the road, out of the way of the traffic, where +he gently laid it down. + +[Illustration: "All three set to work shoulder to shoulder."] + +Wild elephants seem unable to bear the sight of suffering friends +without an attempt to save them, and in particular the wild herds of +these noble beasts love and protect their leaders. When pressed by +hunters, they place him in the midst and crowd in front of him, eager to +save his life at the expense of their own. Professor Romanes gives an +instance of a fine 'tusker' which, when badly wounded, was promptly +surrounded by his companions. They supported him between their +shoulders, and actually succeeded in covering his retreat to the forest. + +Birds are very generous towards each other in these ways, particularly +such as live in communities together. If one rook of a colony gets into +trouble, all the rest are worried about him directly. A great mob of +rooks, living in trees near the river Irwell, were seen chasing each +other playfully on the wing, dancing idly with joy and pleasure at the +coming spring, when one of them accidentally knocked against another, +and fell into the river below. In an instant a chorus of distress was +raised; the birds hovered over their friend, as he struggled in the +water, with cries of sorrow and alarm, and seemed to be giving him +advice in some fashion of their own. At any rate, urged by their voices, +he sprang into the air, and by one strong effort managed to reach a +point of rock. The shouts of joy at his safety echoed far and wide. + +[Illustration: "The robin came back with a worm."] + +Much tenderness is shown by grown-up birds to helpless orphans in need +of their aid. A redbreast was mentioned lately in _Science Gossip_ as +doing a deed of kindness towards a young starling one bitterly cold +morning. The starling had left the nest, and was sitting frightened and +shivering in a cellar, whither it had crept, too weak and hungry to fly. +In vain kindly human hands offered it bread; it refused all food, till a +little hungry robin came down on his daily visit to the house and spied +the baby-bird, sitting on one leg, calling his absent mother. Off he +went, and soon came darting back with a worm, which was gratefully +accepted. When the beggar-bird had been fed, both flew away. Seagulls +have been seen assisting a wounded comrade over the wave, and a crane, +seeing one of its fellows shot, placed itself under the sufferer in such +a way as to prevent his falling to the ground; then, weighted as he was, +he bore him away beyond gun-shot. + +In sickness, too, not only monkeys, dogs, cats, and the higher animals, +but the lowest also, as well as birds, show good feeling. On a salt lake +in Utah lived an old and completely blind pelican, which was very fat, +'and must,' says Darwin, 'have been well fed for a long while by his +companions.' Crows feed their blind friends, and so do rats, and a case +is on record of a barn-door cock who did the same thing. These and +similar facts, which could be multiplied by thousands, prove how +beautiful a spirit is that which our great Creator breathed into even +the humblest of His creatures, and how worthy, for His sake, they are of +our reverence and regard. + +EDITH CARRINGTON. + +[Illustration: "They stumbled along, supporting the stranger as best +they could."] + + + + +IN THE SNOW. + + +'Step out, Jack! There's a mile yet before we get to the station.' + +'Yes; and a mile in this snow counts for three!' answered Jack. 'But we +have nearly an hour for it. We shall catch the train right enough; but +it is a heavy snow-storm, and no mistake!' And then the two young +fellows plodded resolutely on. + +It was Christmas Eve, and they were on their way to catch the mail-train +to town, and were looking forward to a right merry time with their +people at home. But somehow to-day everything seemed against them. First +of all, they were detained beyond time at the bank, in which they both +were clerks, and so missed the last train to town from their little +branch station. There was just time, however, for them to catch a train +on the main line, but to do this they had to take a short cut through +Lord Ravensmere's woods, and the thick snow having covered the paths, +they lost their way several times, and this, of course, delayed them +again. + +However, the walk was nearly over; the station lamps could be seen +twinkling in the valley below, and the young fellows were hurrying on, +when they heard a faint cry, 'Help! help!' coming seemingly from the +wood alongside. + +They stopped, and listened. Again came the cry, 'Help! By the big oak!' + +Both made a dash for the oak. It was but a few paces off; and there, +almost hidden in the deep snow, lay a young fellow of about their own +age. + +'I'm Lord Ravensmere's son. Take me up to the Castle, if you can,' he +said, feebly. 'I'm done!' And, having said this, he fainted away, and +lay like dead on the snowy path. + +'The Castle! That's a mile off. He will freeze to death if we leave him +here and go for help,' said Jack, the elder of the two lads. + +'We must carry him. We can do it between us,' said Ralph; 'but--I say, +old fellow, we shall miss our train, and have to return to those dreary +lodgings of ours for Christmas!' + +Jack nodded, and then, without another word, the two lads lifted the +unconscious youth, and somehow, with interlaced hands to form a seat, +they stumbled along that snowy mile to the Castle, supporting the +stranger between them as best they could. + +By the time they had reached the Lodge, both Jack and Ralph were +thoroughly exhausted with their exertions; but here help was at hand. + +The Earl himself was there, and with him quite a band of grooms and +keepers, all about to start in different directions, to look for the +young heir. + +The old man's gratitude to the young clerks was simply unbounded. He +insisted on their spending the night at the Castle, and here, dressed in +some of the young heir's suits, they sat down to what Jack afterwards +described as a Lord Mayor's banquet; and, later on, in the drawing-room, +Lady Ravensmere herself, with tears in her eyes, thanked them warmly for +saving her son, and told them they should never forget what they had +done. + +The Earl himself drove the lads to the station next morning, so they did +not miss the Christmas dinner with their friends, after all. + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 367._) + +CHAPTER XX. + + +In the room in which the fugitives now found themselves, there were +several garments hanging. + +'Let us change our clothes,' Charlie whispered; 'it will be a splendid +disguise.' + +Ping Wang's face beamed. He pulled off his coat and trousers and donned +in their place a dirty jacket and a pair of ragged knickerbockers. Then, +taking off his 'beehive,' he wound round his head the yellow scarf of +the Boxers. + +Charlie and Fred hastened to follow his example. Ping Wang tied their +Boxer cloths around their heads, and then looked at them with interest. + +'Splendid,' he declared, 'and now we must be off in case any of the +people return. They have gone,' he added, after listening for a few +minutes. + +He opened the door. A passer-by spoke to him, and he answered +cheerfully, making some remark which caused the man to laugh heartily as +he continued his journey. + +'Come on,' Ping Wang whispered, when the man had passed out of sight, +and stepped into the street, followed by Charlie and Fred. + +No one penetrated their disguise as they hurried along the streets. One +man informed Ping Wang that the three foreigners had been killed. They +had taken refuge in a house and the mob had thereupon set light to it. +He pointed to the distant flames. Ping Wang was sorry for the men who +had been mistaken for them, if they were really in the burnt house, but +could not help feeling relieved at the thought that now the mob had +wreaked its vengeance it would probably disperse for the night. + +'When we turn the next corner we shall be facing the gates,' Ping Wang +said after a short walk; and Charlie and Fred heard the news with +thankfulness. They were as determined as ever to recover their friend's +wealth before quitting China, but they realised that it would be folly +to make another attempt to do so while the Boxers were stirring up the +people. Their idea was to return to Hongkong and remain there until the +anti-foreign feeling had grown less strong. + +Ping Wang was the first to reach the corner. To the astonishment of his +friends he stopped short, with an exclamation of surprise. Charlie and +Fred were at his side in a moment and saw at once the cause of his +astonishment--the town gates were closed! + +The surprise which they showed on seeing that the gates were closed did +not cause any comment or notice among the people standing near, for they +too had been surprised and annoyed by the same thing. Chin Choo had +given the order for the gates to be shut, and the soldiers dared not +open them until they received from him a command to that effect. + +After a time the crowd began to disperse, some of the people wandering +off to find lodgings for the night, and others sitting down by the +roadside in the hope that, before long, the gates would be thrown open. +Among the latter were the Pages and Ping Wang. They found a dark corner, +and sat there almost entirely hidden from passers-by. Ping Wang sat in +front of his friends, so that if any one did peer into their corner he +would see him, and conclude that his companions were Chinamen. A long +silence was at last broken by the shouts of an advancing mob. + +'They've discovered their mistake,' Charlie declared, 'and are +continuing the search for us.' + +'Don't talk,' Ping Wang said, and once more they became silent, +listening eagerly to distinguish what the mob was shouting. In a few +minutes their suspicions were confirmed, for the cry which burst from +hundreds of throats was one that there was no need Ping Wang to +translate--Charlie and Fred understood only too well what it meant. + +'Kill the foreigners!' Nearer each moment came the crowd, every man +uttering the same cry. Soon it came in sight. At the head of the mob was +Chin Choo in his palanquin, wearing the yellow head-cloth of the Boxers. + +'They're Boxers,' Ping Wang whispered, 'and evidently they have no idea +that we are alive.' + +This was welcome news to Charlie and Fred, and remembering that they too +were members of the Boxers' Society, they watched the crowd with great +interest. Every Boxer wore his yellow head-cloth, and carried a weapon +of some sort. A few only had rifles, the remainder being armed with +swords, knives, bows and arrows, and sticks. + +When the Boxers had arrived at the town gates, Chin Choo addressed his +followers from his palanquin. He declared that the foreigners had come +to the Middle Kingdom for the sole purpose of taking their country, and +that, therefore, it was necessary to kill them all at once. If any were +permitted to escape, they would return to their own land, and come back +with many more. Then he declared that the Boxers would avenge all the +cruelties which he said had been enacted by the foreigners, and finished +up with the statement that the Boxers could not be wounded. Bullets +would glide off their skin without making a scar, and swords, spears, +and knives would make no impression. + +Chin Choo saw that the people had doubts about the truth of his last +assertion, and beckoned two of his officers to approach him. He talked +with them for a few moments, and then declared, in a loud voice. 'Now +you shall see that nothing can harm the men who wear yellow +head-cloths.' + +As he spoke six Boxers advanced, and stood with their backs to the town +gates. Then twelve of the soldiers marched forward with their rifles at +the trail, and halted about twenty yards in front of them. At the word +of command they loaded their rifles and raised them to their shoulders. +An instant later they fired a volley at the six Boxers, but, to the +astonishment of the onlookers, not one of the men was injured. + +'They used blank cartridges,' Fred declared. + +'It was smart of Chin Choo,' Charlie declared, and Fred and Ping Wang +agreed with him, for not one Chinaman in a thousand knows that there are +such things as blank cartridges. + +The crowd was delighted with this miracle, and the Boxers themselves +became wild with joy. They waved their weapons about, and shouted to be +led against the enemy at once. Their desire was granted, the gates were +thrown open, and the Boxers marched out of the town. + +'Come on,' Ping Wang said, when the Boxers began to move forward. 'We +will march out with them.' + +They slipped into the road, and joined the tail of the Boxers boldly, +brandishing the knives that they had with them in imitation of the +Chinamen's actions. Ping Wang shouted as loudly as any man, and shook +his fist fiercely at an imaginary enemy. + +'Keep your eye on me,' he whispered to Charlie when they had marched +about a mile. 'We will bolt soon.' + +Charlie saw that it would not be a difficult thing to escape from the +rabble army, for men straggled away right and left, just as they felt +inclined. The officers walked in front, and beyond looking round +occasionally to see that the mob was following, kept no further watch on +them. + +Before long Ping Wang halted to rearrange his head-cloth. Charlie and +Fred turned, and stood looking at him as if they were waiting for him to +finish and march on. Their action was very natural, and the few men who +had been marching behind them passed on without a remark. + +Ping Wang continued to fumble about with his head-cloth until the last +of the Boxers were out of sight. Then he said, 'Now's our time,' and +quitted the track. The bushes, which grew thickly along the roadside, +afforded ample 'cover' if they needed it. + +'We must hurry through this undergrowth without being seen, and get well +ahead of the Boxers,' said Ping Wang; 'then we will rejoin the track and +run forward at full speed.' + +They proceeded cautiously, but travelled quick enough to gain on the +Boxers. + +'We are about level with the middle of the mob,' Ping Wang declared some +minutes later. 'We must get a good half-mile ahead of them before we +rejoin the track.' + +As Ping Wang finished speaking, Fred, who had looked behind him, +exclaimed, anxiously, 'There's some one following us.' + +Charlie and Ping Wang stopped short, and, looking in the direction +indicated by Fred, saw a dark figure struggling through the bushes after +them. + +'Let us wait and tackle him,' Charlie suggested, but Ping Wang objected +firmly to that proposal. + +'There may be other fellows following him,' he added, 'and a shout from +any one of them would bring the mob rushing over here in a moment. The +best thing that we can do is to hurry on as quickly as possible.' + +'Come along, then,' Charlie said, and started running. They ran a little +more than a mile. They soon left the Boxers behind, but the man whom +they were trying to avoid still pursued them. + +'He has gained on us,' Charlie declared, and Fred and Ping Wang could +not deny it. + +'We must run faster,' Ping Wang said, but, as he was panting for breath, +Charlie and Fred felt sure that they would not get rid of their pursuer +by running. + +'He is alone,' Fred declared; 'let's stop and see what he wants. We may +be certain that he hasn't any firearms with him, for if he had he would +have had a shot at us long before this.' + +Ping Wang, however, did not agree; he preferred to keep on running. But +he sadly over-rated his running powers, and before they had gone another +hundred yards he had to stop and gasp for breath. The pursuer was now +approaching them rapidly, so Charlie and Fred grasped their knives and +waited for him. He increased his speed, and, as he drew nearer, they saw +that he was wearing the yellow head-cloth of the Boxers. + +(_Continued on page 378._) + +[Illustration: "The pursuer was approaching them rapidly."] + +[Illustration: "Three men came running up."] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 375._) + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +When the man was within twenty yards of the fugitives, he caught sight +of their knives, and, stopping suddenly, exclaimed in pidgin English: + +'What for knives? my plenty good Clistian man. My no knives, no shootee +gun, no nothin'.' + +As he spoke, he held up his hands to show that he was unarmed, and, with +perfect confidence in their honour, advanced in that fashion. + +'Who are you?' Charlie asked, as the thin, wizened, but lively little +Chinaman stood before them. + +'Number One cook. Welly good cook for missionally man.' + +'What for wantee catchee us?' Fred inquired. + +'Englisheeman takee to missionally.' + +'How you savvy we Englisheeman?' + +'Englisheeman pigtail plenty good,' Number One cook explained, but added +the unflattering information that 'Englisheeman no can hide welly much +funny nose, welly much funny eyes, welly much funny mouth.' + +Ping Wang, having recovered his breath, took up the conversation, +Charlie and Fred meanwhile keeping a sharp look-out for Boxers. When +they had walked quickly about a quarter of a mile, Ping Wang brought his +conversation in Chinese to a close. + +'This man says,' he informed the Pages, 'that he is employed at the +mission station for which we are bound. He had been sent up-country by +the missionaries on business, and was returning through Kwang-ngan when +he saw the anti-foreign placard. He did the same thing as we +did--hurried to the gates--but did not reach them until after they were +closed. Being hungry, he went back to get some food, and on his way to +the shop he met a sleepy Boxer, who had apparently just come from an +opium den. Number One said to himself, "I will have that head-cloth," +and he took it, giving the Boxer his own hat instead. Then, after a +while, he made his way to the gates, arriving there just as the Boxers +were marching out. He declares that he knew that both of you were +Englishmen the moment he saw you. He kept his eyes on us, and decided to +join us.' + +'Does he think that the rising will spread?' Charlie asked. + +'He is sure it will, and he means to urge Barton and his friends to +leave the country as quickly as possible.' + +Being now about half a mile ahead of the Boxers, the two Englishmen and +the two Chinamen made their way back to the track, and, after walking +quickly for another hour, arrived at the gates of Su-ching, which they +had hoped not to re-enter until they brought with them Ping Wang's +treasure. The gates were open, but the soldiers who guarded the entrance +to the town had thrown off their usual air of apathy, and were +questioning eagerly every man who came from the direction of +Kwang-ngan. On seeing four Boxers approaching, they hurried forward to +meet them. + +'Are the Boxers coming quickly to kill the foreigners?' they asked, +excitedly. + +'They are,' Ping Wang answered. 'Listen and you will hear them +shouting.' + +The noise of the advancing mob reached them as a faint, buzzing sound, +but loud enough to convince the soldiers that the Boxers were really +coming. They were anxious to ask Ping Wang and his companions more +questions, but Ping Wang cut short their questions. + +'We bear a message,' he declared, 'and we must deliver it at once. We +have run quickly, for we did not carry rifles. But now that we have +finished running, give us rifles, in case we meet any foreigners.' + +To the soldiers this request appeared to be a perfectly reasonable one, +and, knowing that the mandarin and other town officials sympathised with +the Boxers, they took from the armoury, which was close by, four Snider +rifles, and handed them out to Ping Wang, with ammunition. + +Feeling safe once more, Ping Wang and his friends hurried off in the +direction of the mandarin's house; but, as soon as they got out of sight +of the soldiers, Number One exclaimed, 'This way welly much more quick,' +and turned up a narrow side-street. The Pages and Ping Wang followed +him, and in about three minutes they arrived at the wall of the mission +station, which they saw was already placarded with anti-foreign +manifestoes. They rang the bell, but some minutes passed, and the gate +was not opened. They rang again, loudly, and a minute later they heard +Barton inquire, in Chinese, who they were. + +'Missionalies,' Number One answered, quite convinced that Charlie and +Fred were missionaries. + +'Where from?' Barton asked, for one of his native servants had already +turned traitor, and he was now very cautious. + +'It's all right, Mr. Barton!' Charlie sang out. 'We are the Pages, Ping +Wang, and your Number One cook.' + +'That's splendid!' Barton declared, and, although they could not see +him, they knew by his voice that their arrival was welcome. 'Wait a +moment,' he continued; 'the gate is barricaded, but I will lower a +ladder to you. Here you are!' he called down a minute later, and on +looking up they saw him lowering from the top of the wall a long bamboo +ladder. When it touched the ground they planted it firmly. + +'You go first, Number One,' Charlie said, in a tone that showed he meant +to be obeyed. + +'Welly good,' Number One replied, and went up the ladder as nimbly as if +it were his usual way of entering the mission station. + +Fred followed Number One, and Charlie asked to be the last, but Ping +Wang objected. + +'Hurry up!' Barton sang out, and Ping Wang, seeing that Charlie was +determined to be the last man up, climbed the ladder. Just as he reached +the top, and as Charlie planted his foot on the lowest rung, three men, +with knives in their hands, came running up, and Charlie was unaware of +his danger; but Fred saw the scoundrels, and slipping a cartridge into +the breach of his rifle he took aim, fired, and shot the foremost man. +The other two, who had not expected any danger, turned about and fled in +terror. + +'Fred,' Charlie said, when he had climbed over the wall, 'you saved my +life.' Then he turned to Barton. 'I see that you are prepared for the +Boxers,' he said. 'We were afraid that we shouldn't get here in time to +warn you of their approach.' + +'Are they on their way, then?' + +'They will be here in ten minutes at the latest.' + +Barton sighed. 'I had been hoping,' he said, 'that the Empress-Dowager +would have had the Boxers suppressed before they would be able to reach +here. I am afraid, however, that she is secretly encouraging them. It is +a great sorrow to my colleagues and myself to find ourselves arming +against the people among whom we have lived on friendly terms for some +years. However, we must protect our women and children. Since you left +us, eight men, five women, and four children have joined us. Some of +them have suffered terribly in their flight from the Boxers. Their own +mission stations have been destroyed, and many of their +fellow-missionaries were murdered. Consequently we may have to fight.' + +'How many European men have you, and what weapons?' Fred asked. + +'Thirteen, counting you and your brother, and we have eight rifles and +five revolvers. That is not including your Sniders.' + +'But what about provisions?' Charlie asked. + +'I have got a good stock, and I think we can stand a month's siege. Of +course it won't last quite so long now you are here.' + +The other missionaries now joined them, in answer to Barton's summons. +The majority were young men, but two were middle-aged, and one a +grey-bearded old gentleman. Each had his rifle or revolver, and, +although they did not wish to be forced to fight, they had the +determined looks of men who knew that their cause was a good one, and +were prepared to die in its defence. Their positions at the wall had +been settled some hours before, but the arrival of the Pages, Ping Wang, +and Number One made a fresh arrangement necessary. + +'I will post you above the gate, with Ping Wang, and Number One, as you +call him,' Barton said to Fred, adding, 'I will make Charlie my +lieutenant.' + +'That won't do,' Charlie declared. 'I know nothing about military +matters, but Fred does. He's a Volunteer, and a jolly good shot into the +bargain. Make him your lieutenant.' + +'Very well. Then you go over the gate.' + +Charlie took up his position on a platform built over the gateway, on +the inner side of the wall. Ping Wang was on his right, and Number One +on his left. + +'I came to the conclusion,' Barton said, as he showed Fred the defences, +'that it would be risky to make loopholes in the wall, in case, after a +time, we should be unable to place a man at each. Therefore we built +those platforms.' + +The platforms were built at intervals around the wall, each having room +for six or seven men. The defenders would have to shoot over the top of +the wall, but cover had been provided for them by sandbags fixed +securely along the ridge. + +'Our women workers made those sandbags,' Barton remarked. 'They used +table-cloths, rugs, curtains, and even some of their own dresses. They +have been a great help to us.' + +'By-the-bye, do your colleagues know how to handle their rifles?' Fred +inquired. + +'Mr. Wilkins, that old gentleman with the grey beard, was a good shot +forty years ago; but from the time he first left England, until +yesterday, he hadn't touched a rifle. However, he was practising +yesterday and to-day, and I have no doubt that he will do well. My other +colleagues had never handled a rifle in their lives until this morning, +when I gave them a little instruction. I was a member of the Oxford +University Corps.' + +'We ought to make a good defence then,' said Fred. 'But we must keep a +sharp eye on the ammunition, and see that it isn't wasted.' + +'That reminds me that my man got a fine Lee-Metford and a large box of +ammunition. They were sold to him at a low price by a boatman who, I +suspect, had stolen them at one of the treaty ports. As the rifle was +strange to me I held it back until I had time to learn how to fill the +magazine. Would you like to have it?' + +'I should, very much.' + +They hurried to the verandah of the house where the Lee-Metford and +ammunition lay. Fred picked up the rifle and, after examining it +closely, recognised it as the very one which he had used with good +effect against the river pirates. He was about to tell Barton of his +discovery when loud shouts from the town made known to them that the +Boxers had arrived. Fred pulled off his skull-cap, filled it with +cartridges, and followed Barton down the steps and up on to the +platform, where Charlie, Ping Wang, and Number One were stationed. + +(_Continued on page 386._) + + + + +TOYS FROM THE STREETS. + + +Who does not know the Street Toy-man? 'All made to work! Here you are, +sir, a real motor-car for a penny! The wonderful jumping frog!' + +Cheapside and Ludgate Hill, and many less busy parts of London, ring +with such cries for a month before Christmas. All the year round the +hawkers are standing patiently on the curbstone with their wonderful +penn'orths; but it is at Christmas-time that they do most business. Some +children are fortunate enough to be taken by their parents to see the +streets at Christmas-time, and sometimes they are allowed to buy some of +the pretty things for themselves. But there are many others not so +fortunate, who can only look on wistfully, and others again who are not +rich enough or, perhaps, too ill even to go and look at the sights. Poor +men and women, who cannot really afford even a penny, find in the +hawkers' wares the cheapest market, and many a bare, cold home is +brightened at Christmas by one or two of the little toys that cost so +little, but bring so much happiness. + +[Illustration: Toys from the Streets.] + +These toys have a wonderful history of their own. Do you know that when +you have one of them in your hand, you may be holding what has come +thousands of miles over sea and land from the hands of other children in +distant countries? Whole families make a living by manufacturing these +toys. The material--wood, paper, tinsel, wire, or what not--is given out +at the factory, and the worker takes it home. There every one is busy; +one cutting out pieces of paper of a given shape, one whittling pieces +of wood to fit together, one gumming up the various parts, till the +whole toy is finished and added to a growing pile. Nearly every +civilised country has such workers--Austria, Germany, France, America, +Japan, and England; and the toys in the end travel mile after mile in +great ships and trains, to be sold in the streets for such a little sum! + +Now think how some of these are made. Most of those which require +gumming or fitting together are the work of man's hands alone. The +birdcage and dog musical-box in the illustration are of this kind. In +the inside of the box under the dog is a little cogged wheel, which, +when the handle is turned, rubs against pieces of metal and produces the +musical sounds. The bird's song, or rather, croak, is caused by air +rushing through a sort of parchment tissue when the floor of the cage is +compressed. The train, carman, cart, and trailer are made almost +entirely by means of moulds, though some parts have to be fitted +together by hand. First of all, a model is made in wax or clay, or some +other substance, then a cast is taken of it in plaster of Paris, then a +double mould (in two pieces) is made from the plaster cast, and into +these moulds liquid metal--an alloy mainly composed of lead--is run, and +left to cool. All these five toys have wheels that move. They are +electro-gilt--that is, the gilding is fixed on them by means of a bath +through which an electric current passes. + +The other toys in the illustration are made mainly by hand, though parts +have to be cast in moulds or cut by machinery. The monkey bicyclist is +hand-made; his body is composed of wool and wire. The weight hanging +down under the string keeps him perfectly balanced, and as the string is +raised or lowered he runs up and down more easily than a good many human +bicyclists. + +(_Continued on page 389._) + +[Illustration: Chinese Laundrymen.] + + + + +THE CHINESE LAUNDRYMAN. + + +The differences in general appearance of the men of various races are +most striking. No one could mistake a Chinaman for a North American +Indian, or a Negro for a Malay or a Maori. Not only are these men of +various races different in outward appearance, but they have also minds +of different characters, and seem naturally fitted for different kinds +of work. + +The Chinaman has his own special fields of labour. He is a great trader +with the countries near home, and sends out many junks to the East +Indies, the Malay Islands, and the South Sea Islands, to collect edible +birds' nests, trepang, ornamental woods, pearls, pearl-shells, +tortoise-shell, and the skins of birds of paradise. At Singapore, there +are hundreds of Chinese shopkeepers, who sell all kinds of miscellaneous +articles, such as penknives, cotton thread, writing-paper, gunpowder, +and corkscrews, often at a price which would be considered cheap even in +England. + +But it is when the Chinaman settles in some American or Australian town +that his special abilities are best seen. He is surrounded and +outnumbered by Englishmen and Americans, and is entirely under their +government; and yet there are some kinds of work which he can do so well +and so cheaply that no European can compete with him. He is an excellent +gardener in a small way, and if he can obtain only a very little plot of +ground, he will cultivate it so constantly and so carefully that he will +be able to maintain himself in comfort with the money which he obtains +from the sale of his vegetables and fruits. Many gardens belonging to +Chinamen are to be seen on the outskirts of the cities of Australia and +New Zealand, and early in the morning the Chinamen hawk their products +through the streets. + +The Chinaman is equally good as a laundryman, and in some cities the +Chinese colonists do the whole of the laundry-work. In San Francisco, +where there are thousands of Chinese, all the washing is performed by +them. They work in the open air, just as the English and Scotch women +used to do in their public washing-grounds, standing in the water +rubbing and wringing their clothes. They have a curious practice in +ironing, of spraying the linen with water through their mouths. They do +the work very thoroughly, and at the same time cheaply. A Chinaman will +live very comfortably on forty pounds a year, and, as he is an almost +incessant worker, he can make sufficient money for his needs by work +which is very poorly paid from an Englishman's point of view. + + + + +A BUSY WORLD. + + + What a busy world is this! + Everything I view + Has some task it must not miss-- + Something it must do; + There is nothing idle stands, + All things work with head or hands. + + All day long the busy Sun + Runneth through the skies, + And its work is never done + Till the stars arise: + Then it goes to other lands, + Nor one moment idle stands. + + In this world where all things work, + I must busy be; + There are tasks I must not shirk, + Duties set for me; + And since nothing idle stands, + I must work with head or hands. + + + + +A HUNDRED YEARS AGO. + +True Tales of the Year 1805. + +VII.--REPTON, THE CONVICT. + + +It was the last day of the Winter Assize, in the year 1805, and a long +row of prisoners stood in the dock of the court to receive the sentence +of death. + +Sixteen men to be hanged! It seems quite incredible now, but a hundred +years ago the death sentence was given indiscriminately for offences of +all sorts, some so trivial as hardly to deserve the name. For instance, +the man of sixty, who stood first in the dock, had snatched a ham from a +shop-door, to take to some starving children at home; and the country +lad of some eighteen years or less, at the other end of the row, had set +fire to a rick--it was an accident, it is true, but a quantity of hay +had been burnt; the jury found him 'guilty,' and he was to be hanged +with the rest. + +Poor lad! The judge's words fell on his ear like strokes of a heavy +hammer. Surely they could not be meant for him! It was but a few days +ago that he had been a happy, careless lad, shouting and laughing over a +bonfire in which he and some friends were to roast potatoes. A high wind +got up suddenly, and some sparks from their fire were carried to a +hay-rick at some little distance, and at once there was a blaze! + +The other lads slunk away, terrified at the mishap, but this lad, Repton +by name, ran up, and tried to stamp out the flames, and so was taken +'red-handed,' as the angry farmer expressed it, and was there and then +lodged in the county jail. + +And now he was to die! He sat in a corner of the dark underground room, +dazed and miserable, whilst the men round him, sentenced like himself, +were talking and laughing, and trying by these means to put away the +thought of their fate. But Repton was stupefied with anguish, till at +last merciful sleep overcame him. + +He was roused next morning by the jailor, who said, roughly enough, +'You've escaped the gallows this time, lad. A reprieve has come for +you.' + +'Am I free? Can I go home?' asked the lad eagerly, not understanding the +man's words. + +The jailor burst out laughing. 'Free! What are you thinking of? Folks +can't burn ricks, and be free. You are to be transported to Botany Bay +for ten years, and then you will be free.' + + * * * * * + +The six months which Repton had to pass on the hulks at Sheerness among +scenes of wickedness and brutality seemed afterwards like a bad dream, +and the lad prayed--oh, so earnestly!--to be kept from the evil which +surrounded him. Then came the day when, chained two and two, he and his +companions were marched through the streets and shipped on board the +_Neptune_, as unseaworthy a craft as ever sailed the ocean, but thought +good enough for convicts. + +However, the _Neptune_ did not sink; but she took nearly a year to reach +her destination, and the convicts, stowed together in the hold, suffered +torments from heat and thirst in the tropics. Then small-pox broke out +amongst them, and many died; the rest were more like skeletons than +living men, when the _Neptune_ at last cast anchor in Botany Bay. Here +the men had to work on Government buildings, and at night were locked up +in barracks, hardly more roomy or airy than the hold of the old +_Neptune_. + +Most of the convicts did as little work, and gave as much trouble as +they dared, and nothing but fear of the overseer kept them from open +mutiny. At last, finding the overseer alone one day, and for once +unarmed, two or three of the worst convicts set upon him, and would have +murdered him, if Repton had not stood by him and helped him till +assistance came to overpower the mutineers. + +The overseer did not forget this act of Repton's, and next time one of +the merchants came to the barracks to choose a servant from among the +convicts (as was then the custom), he recommended the lad for the +coveted post. + +Now, indeed, Repton felt almost happy for the first time since his +conviction. He was still a convict, it is true, and might be flogged at +his master's will, or be sent back to the convict barracks, if he +misconducted himself in any way. But, for the moment, he was actually +free; he lived in a little shed of his own next the stable, and groomed +the horses as a free man; and the relief of no longer being herded with +wicked men, day and night, was too great for words. + +Repton loved horses, too, and took such care of his master's beautiful +mare, and the little girl's pony, that there never was any fault to be +found with him. As the months went on, he was trusted more and more by +both master and mistress, and treated more like a humble friend than a +despised convict. + +Those were lawless days in the Colony; convicts were constantly escaping +into the bush, where they lived as they could--often venturing out to +rob houses, or attacking and plundering, sometimes even murdering, +solitary travellers. + +Mr. Edmonds, Repton's master, had a house in a somewhat lonely position, +half-a-mile or more from any neighbour. He was, however, a man prepared +for all emergencies, and, as he was known to be well provided with +fire-arms, and not afraid to use them, his house had hitherto been left +unmolested. + +One night, however--a dark, stormy night--Repton was roused by the sound +of steel grating against something. Listening more intently, he heard +whispers, and finally came to the conclusion that men were trying to +force open the house-door. Then it suddenly flashed into Repton's mind +that Mr. Edmonds had been summoned hastily away that very evening by a +message from a sick friend on the other side of the town, and there was +no one in the house but a young nursemaid to protect the mistress and +her little girl. + +Hastily flinging on his clothes, he crept up in the darkness, and, +getting behind the two men, who had by this time almost forced the door, +he felled one of them to the ground with a well-aimed blow. The other, +however, turned savagely on Repton, and the two were soon locked in +fight. The burglar was, however, the heavier man of the two, and things +were going badly for Repton, whose strength was all but exhausted, when +the welcome sound of horses' hoofs was heard, and Mr. Edmonds came +galloping up. + +'Help, help, master!' cried Repton. 'Here, I cannot hold him much +longer!' + +Mr. Edmonds sprang from his horse, and came to him, and, with the lad's +help, both burglars were bound hand and foot, and left in an outhouse +till the police could fetch them away. + +Then Repton's turn came, and his master shook him by the hand, convict +though he was, and thanked him for his bravery, and he was taken +indoors, where Mrs. Repton with her own hands brought some soothing +lotion to bathe his wounds. + +Nor was this the end. Mr. Edmonds, who had great influence with the +Governor, obtained in time a free pardon for Repton, and set him up in +business, and now some of the most respected families in Australia are +the descendants of Repton the Convict. + +[Illustration: "The two were soon locked in fight."] + +[Illustration: "Soon all three were scooping up handfuls of +cartridges."] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 379._) + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +'Here they come,' Ping Wang said, and as he spoke a shouting, wild-looking +mob of Chinamen came running down the road to the mission station. Halting +about twenty yards away from the mission wall, they waited until their +whole force had arrived, contenting themselves in the meanwhile with +yelling 'Down with the foreigners!' brandishing their weapons and waving +their flags. Soon there were quite three hundred Boxers in the road facing +the front of the mission, it being their hope to strike terror by a +display of their numbers. + +At a signal from the leader of the Boxers, about fifty rifles were fired +point-blank at the wall. Fred raised his rifle, pressed the trigger, and +the Boxer leader threw up his arms and fell on his face. Fred's shot was +taken by the other defenders as the signal to fire, and they did so +promptly. + +The surprise and terror of the Boxers on discovering that they were not +invulnerable formed a sight which none of the defenders will ever +forget. Every man was seized with a desire to escape from the +foreigners' bullets, and they turned and ran in confusion. + +'Cease fire,' Barton commanded, when he saw the enemy routed, and Fred, +Charlie, and Ping Wang obeyed instantly. + +'I don't fancy that the Boxers will trouble us again to-night,' Barton +said, a few minutes later, 'for their leaders will have some difficulty +after this in convincing them that they cannot be wounded. There is no +need for all of us to remain on duty. I dare say you fellows are hungry; +come inside.' + +'We are not presentable,' Fred said. 'Just look at the rags we are +wearing.' + +'They are pretty bad,' Barton admitted. 'Come into my room, and I'll see +if I can't find you some better ones.' + +Barton went into the rooms of two other missionaries, and returned with +an armful of clothes. 'Now I will go and see about a meal for you,' he +said. 'I will be back in a few minutes.' + +When he returned, he could not help smiling at what he saw. Ping Wang, +wishing to dress like his friends, had put on knickerbockers and a +college blazer, down the back of which hung his black, silky pigtail. +Charlie was wearing flannel trousers and a khaki tunic, while Fred was +attired in a black and somewhat moth-eaten suit, which was too short for +him both in arms and legs. + +'You look better than you did,' Barton declared. 'But, now, come and +have your supper.' + +He led the way along the verandah, and into a large airy room at the +back of the building, where the supper was laid. Four ladies were hard +at work making sandbags, a task at which they had been busy since early +in the morning. Barton introduced the Pages and Ping Wang to them. In +spite of the anxiety which the fact of the mission being besieged caused +them, they were cheerful in their conversation, and insisted upon the +new-comers making a hearty meal. After supper Charlie, Fred, and Ping +Wang returned to their posts, relieving the missionaries, and enabling +them to have some rest. + +The night was very cold, and the sentinels had great difficulty in +keeping themselves warm. + +'I hope,' Fred said to Charlie, 'that the Boxers won't attack us while +my hands are numbed, for I'm sure I could not shoot just now.' + +'It's my opinion,' Charlie answered, 'that the reception we gave them +has taken the pluck out of them, and that we shan't be troubled with +them for some days. Then, perhaps, they will screw up their courage to +make another assault.' + +'Their silence strikes me as very suspicious,' Ping Wang declared. 'It's +my belief that they are planning a surprise.' + +Ping Wang's opinion was at once communicated to Barton, with the result +that every man on duty was instructed to keep an extra sharp look-out. +The order was, as a matter of fact, not needed; for the sentries were as +alert as they possibly could be. Hour after hour they peered into the +darkness, but without seeing any signs of the enemy. + +At daybreak Number One and his assistant cooks brought breakfast to the +shivering defenders. They enjoyed their breakfast thoroughly, and +thanked Number One for its excellence. He smiled, and sent his +assistants away with the crockery. He himself remained, without asking +permission, upon the platform. A spare rifle was there, and he took +possession of it. Barton was about to send him back to the kitchen when +Charlie suddenly exclaimed, 'What's that, just over there?' + +'It looks to me uncommonly like an overturned wheelbarrow,' Barton +replied. 'We shall know when it gets a little lighter.' + +'It is a wheelbarrow,' Fred declared, a few minutes later. + +'Well,' Charlie exclaimed, 'this is the first time that I have heard of +a man coming into battle on a wheelbarrow!' + +'I can see what it was used for!' Fred exclaimed. 'It carried the +ammunition. I can see the cartridges lying on the ground. We must have +those. I will go down and get them. Where's the ladder?' + +'We certainly need more ammunition,' Barton admitted, 'but it would be a +dangerous job for you to get those cartridges.' + +'I object too,' said Charlie. 'It would be madness to run the risk of +losing our best shot. I will go and get the cartridges, and, with Mr. +Wilkins and you two to keep off any one who approaches me, I shall be +pretty safe.' + +'Charlie's plan is the better of the two,' Ping Wang joined in; 'but he +mustn't attempt to carry it out without help. If he has one or two men +with him the Boxers will be less likely to attack him, and certainly the +job will be done more quickly. I'll be one of the men to accompany him, +and I should like Number One to be the other.' + +Ping Wang asked Number One in Chinese if he would care to take part in +fetching the ammunition. His face beamed at the idea. + +'Get the ladder, then,' Barton said; and Charlie added, 'Bring a sack.' + +Number One fetched both at once. The sack was thrown down into the road, +and the ladder lowered quickly. + +Charlie was the first to descend, but his companions followed so quickly +that all three were on the ladder at the same time. Snatching up the +sack the moment that he touched the ground, Charlie ran to the +overturned wheelbarrow. Ping Wang and Number One were only a yard or two +behind him, and soon all three were scooping up handfuls of cartridges +and dropping them in the sack. + +'Guns, mistah,' Number One exclaimed when the sack was about half full, +and pointed to three rifles lying near. + +'Pick them up,' Charlie said, 'and run back with them at once.' + +'Can do,' Number One replied, and, collecting the rifles, ran back to +the ladder, climbed up it, and handed his prize over the wall to Barton. +Then, running to the barrow, he resumed his work of picking up +cartridges. + +'We needn't trouble about the others,' Charlie said when they had +collected all but about thirty, which were scattered over a wide space, +and, slinging the sack over his shoulder, he started for the ladder. At +the same moment four shots were fired at him from the houses facing the +mission, but without touching him or his companions. Mr. Wilkins, +Barton, and Fred returned the fire instantly, but their opponents were +hidden from view, and their shots were wasted--at least, they imagined +that they were wasted; but it was a very fortunate thing for them that +they had not touched a Boxer, for the fanatics no sooner found that they +were unhurt by the foreigners' fire than they jumped to the conclusion +again that they could not be wounded. One of them, springing up from his +place of hiding on the roof, tried a standing shot at Charlie, but, +before he had time to fire, Mr. Wilkins's rifle rang out, and the Boxer +fell forward into the street. His death was not witnessed by the other +Boxers, for they were in a different house. One of them exposed his head +for a moment, and Barton and Fred fired simultaneously, and one, or +perhaps both, hit it. But the other Boxers kept under cover, and one of +them shot Number One through the left arm. + +Ping Wang and Number One climbed the ladder in safety, but Charlie, +whose progress was hampered by the sack, had not reached the foot of it. + +'Drop the sack and run!' Fred shouted, but his brother either did not +hear or would not take his advice. + +'Run, Charlie! never mind about the sack,' Fred again shouted, but +Charlie was now close to the foot of the ladder, and had no intention of +losing his prize. A bullet tore up the ground a yard in front of him, +and Fred, in desperation, fired the contents of his magazine at the spot +where the man was hidden. The rapidity of the firing apparently +frightened him, and Barton having wounded the other man, Charlie climbed +the ladder without further harm; but just as he reached the safe side of +the wall, a crowd of fully one hundred Boxers rushed round the corner, +and began a determined attack on the mission. + +(_Continued on page 398._) + + + + +INSECT WAYS AND MEANS. + +XII.--HOW INSECTS GROW. + + +Those of you who have kept silkworms or other caterpillars must have +noticed that these insects, from time to time, become listless, cease +feeding, and finally 'moult,' or change their skin; but it may not have +occurred to you to inquire _why_ this change is necessary. + +The reason is certainly a curious one, since it is the caterpillar way +of growing. With most living creatures, growth is continuous until the +full-grown size is reached; that is to say, it takes place by +imperceptible degrees. Boys and girls add to the number of their inches +so gradually that neither they themselves nor their friends can perceive +the change, except by reference to old measurements. You cannot _see_ +people or animals growing, because the process is so steady and gradual. +But with the insects, and their relatives, the crabs and lobsters, this +is otherwise. Owing to its peculiar nature, the hard outer skin, which +is of horny, or, as it is called, 'chitinous' nature, cannot grow +gradually, and so the skin has to be cast off periodically. This +casting-off process is known as 'moulting.' At each change of skin a +sudden and easily noticed increase of size takes place; and, before +further growth is possible, another moult must be undergone. + +Directly after each moult the body will be found to be quite soft, but +the skin quickly hardens again. + +The manner in which the 'old clo'' are cast off is curious. For some +time before the change takes place, the insect appears to 'sicken,' +taking no food and wearing a very mournful air. At last it wakes up into +something like activity. Now is the time to watch. If--in the case of a +silkworm, for example--the watching is begun a little earlier than this, +it will be found that the day before the change, the insect deliberately +binds its hinder legs to the leaf on which it rests by silken threads. +This done, it remains motionless. Soon after, through the transparent +skin, a second head, larger than the first, will be seen; then the body +is raised, and the skin is separated from it by the formation of a fluid +which circulates between the old skin and the body. Next, by a series of +vigorous movements, the old skin cracks along the back, and the insect +first pushes out its head and the fore-part of the body, and then +withdraws the hinder part. In a few minutes all is over, and the old +skin is left bound to the leaf by the silken threads. How complete this +change is may be seen from the fact that even the breathing tubes and +the inner lining of the digestive organs are cast off. + +This process, in the case of the caterpillar, takes place no less than +four times--in some caterpillars five times. Ten days separate each of +the first four moults, and an interval of sixteen days elapses between +the fourth, or fifth, and last. This last moult is followed by a still +greater change, the caterpillar passing into a state of coma, or sleep, +during which it is turned into the butterfly or moth. For this purpose +it spins a winding-sheet of silk, or digs down into the ground and forms +a case, or cocoon; or else it hangs itself by the tail, and becomes +strangely transformed into what we call a 'chrysalis.' From the cocoon, +or chrysalis, as the case may be, the butterfly or moth sooner or later +makes its appearance. + +[Illustration: Fig. 1.--Dragon-fly moulting.] + +To give an idea of the great increase of growth in insects, let us take +the case of the silkworm. At the time of hatching, the little worm +weighs about the one-hundredth part of a grain; when fully grown, it +weighs ninety-five grains. During this time, therefore, it has increased +ninety-five thousand times its original weight, and it has eaten sixty +thousand times its weight of food! + +[Illustration: Fig. 3.--Empty Case of a Newly-moulted Cockroach.] + +The change from the worm-like caterpillar to the butterfly is a great +one, and, if we did not know it so well, would be startling. This change +is known as a 'complete metamorphosis.' The dragon-fly is another insect +with a complete metamorphosis. How the dragon-fly moults you will see in +the illustration (fig. 1): even an acrobat might envy him! + +Carefully examine the series of figures from A to D. The empty case at A +shows the last stage of the larval life. Out of this case the young +dragon-fly is just emerging. In C he has gained his freedom, and is +stopping to take breath and allow his wings to expand. By the time this +has taken place, they will be nearly as long as the body (as in D). + +The locust furnishes us with an instance of what is known as 'incomplete +metamorphosis.' In other words, the young, when they emerge from the +egg, are very little different from the parent form. The youngest locust +in the illustration (fig. 2) is obviously a locust, though he lacks +wings; but there is no promise of the butterfly in the worm-like +caterpillar. + +[Illustration: Fig. 2.--Stages of Locust's Growth.] + +The cockroach, like the grasshopper and the locust, only undergoes an +incomplete metamorphosis. The empty case of a newly-moulted cockroach is +shown in fig. 3. The slit(s) along the back marks the spot where the +insect crept out. + +[Illustration: Some More Toys from the Streets.] + + + + +TOYS FROM THE STREETS. + +(_Continued from page 382._) + + +The most remarkable toy in our second illustration is that in the +middle. It is a wonderful Japanese screen or fan, which shuts up into +the space of a few inches. These fans are made in three sizes, the +largest, and the very latest, as far as invention goes, being eighteen +inches in diameter. The whole of the fan is made by machinery! An +amazing machine cuts out each layer of paper of the proper size and +shape, and when all the parts are ready, sticks them neatly together. +Most Japanese toys--which really _are_ Japanese, not mere imitations of +Japanese designs--are made by hand; but this one is due to machinery +alone. + +The other toys in this picture are mostly machine-made, and their uses +can be easily seen. But the cup and ball, and the 'two bears,' as the +strange figures hammering on an anvil in the top left-hand corner are +called, are made by hand. The latter comes all the way from a little +village in Austria, and the figures are cut out by the villagers in +their homes, before being fastened together. The sewing-machine is one +of the most popular toys: thousands of gross of these have been sold, +according to Messrs. Lawrence, of Houndsditch, who very kindly gave us +some facts about this business. A 'gross' means one hundred and +forty-four; when you consider that many times one hundred and forty-four +thousand have been made and purchased, you will see what a vast trade is +done. + +The little train in a box, a very popular toy, is made in Germany, +mainly by machinery. All the wheels of each carriage go round, and the +carriages themselves can be unhooked and used separately. The funny +little camera--of course, it does not take real photographs--is an +English toy. So is the tiny tin of biscuits. The biscuits are real, and +are made specially for these wonderful little boxes. + +(_Concluded on page 403._) + + + + +THE LOVER-DOLL. + + + Pardon, dearest Araminta, + If I go not on my knees, + For my joints are out of order, + When I bend they crack and wheeze. + + When I saw you in the doll's-house, + Then I felt young Cupid's dart + Striking through my crimson waistcoat, + Till it stuck within my heart. + + Though my blood is not the bluest, + Still, for you (the fact remains) + I would gladly shed the last drop + Of the sawdust in my veins. + + Do not scorn me, Araminta, + To my suit your favour lend; + I would fold my arms around you, + Only that I cannot bend. + + For, before I fell in love, dear, + Ere I hoped with you to wed, + Careless Mistress Baby dropped me + Down the stairs upon my head. + + But I'll probably recover + When I've had a dose of glue, + And, come life or death, will ever + Be to Araminta true. + + + + +HIS FIRST WOLF HUNT. + +By HAROLD ERICSON. + + +It happened in Russia, when I was spending the winter with a cousin who +lives in St. Petersburg. This was ten years ago and we were mere boys, +both of us. There is plenty to do in Russia, in winter, for those who +like sledging, skating, ice-yachting, and so on, and I think I +thoroughly enjoyed all these forms of amusement. Well, one day near the +beginning of the winter, before the really great snows had fallen, a big +wind came and swept away every particle of snow that had fallen from the +twenty miles of ice which divided St. Petersburg from Cronstadt, thus +giving us such an opportunity for a day's skating on a grand scale as we +might never meet with again throughout our lives. + +My cousin Tom had an idea in the evening just before bed-time, with the +result that we ordered sandwiches for an early hour next morning and +went to bed promptly, our minds full of the delightful day we were going +to spend on the Gulf of Finland, now a shining field of splendid, smooth +ice. + +The great day broke magnificently, a glorious, sunshiny December day, +the thermometer at zero, or near it, but the air so dry and bathed in +sun that one was not conscious of the cold. + +Oh, the joy of feeling oneself flying through the air as we raced side +by side over the firm, glass-like plain of ice! We must have skated at +full pace for five miles at least before we pulled up, puffing and +gloriously happy, in response to an exclamation from Tom. + +'It's splendid,' he said, 'and I should like to go on for miles and +miles; but Father warned me to look out when we came somewhere near the +middle of the gulf; he has skated here a good deal in former years, and +he says one must be on the look-out for fissures which are caused by a +very hard frost like this; the ice suddenly cracks and parts, sometimes +only a few inches, sometimes several feet, even up to fifteen feet or +so. I believe I see a crack on ahead, and that's why I stopped.' + +We skated slowly forward a short way. Sure enough, there opened out +before our eyes, plain as possible, a fissure of several feet in width, +the water looking black and cruel as it welled up to the edge of the ice +as though it longed to get at us. + +'Nice sort of place if one had skated up to it at dusk, eh?' said Tom. + +The water certainly looked very grim. + +'It's all very well, but what are we going to do?' said I. 'It will be +no fun if this is the end of our skate, and we can't get to Cronstadt!' + +'Perhaps it's only a local crack; we will skate along it, first one way +and then the other, and see.' + +We did so, but it appeared that the spot at which we originally struck +the fissure was the narrowest place; it widened at either side. + +We stood and stared at it. Tom spoke first. + +'_Dare_ you?' he asked. + +I saw what he meant and remained silent, considering. 'It's about six +feet,' I said, 'I suppose one could fly it--both feet together, eh?' + +'Yes; come on--no use thinking--we will go for it; I will give you a +lead. Hold out your coat to me and pull me in if I fall short.' + +Tom took a good run, got up a great speed, and launched himself into the +air. He must have cleared eight or ten feet at least. 'Come on!' he +laughed, 'it's as easy as winking.' + +I must confess that I was more than a little frightened as I prepared to +follow my daring cousin. I imitated his methods as closely as I could; I +got a terrific speed up and let myself go. + +I cleared the open water easily, but so great was my impetus that I +turned head over heels at the other side, and lay panting and laughing +on the ice. + +Presently we were in full sweep once more towards Cronstadt; we reached +the 'half-way house' without adventure; this was a little wooden hut +built on the ice for the accommodation of travellers in need of shelter +or warmth. It was kept by a man and his wife, who must have found it a +weird house to live in all the winter. + +'We heard wolves last night,' they told us; 'get back before dusk if you +are wise!' + +We thought little of the warning. We meant to be home by daylight. As +for the wolves, they would have to be active animals to keep up with us +at our pace! + +Having enjoyed a cup of coffee and a cake apiece we continued our +journey, and a few miles beyond the rest-house, came across another +fissure which we calculated to be ten feet across. + +By this time we were reckless, or very over confident. 'My turn to give +you a lead!' said I, and suiting the action to the words, I worked up +pace, flew out, and cleared the black water with ease. Tom followed and +cleared it also, but in alighting he twisted his ankle a little. He +uttered an exclamation of pain and sat down a moment, rubbing his leg. +He said it was nothing serious, however, and indeed, he was up and off +again in a few moments. + +(_Concluded on page 406._) + + + + +AN IMPRESSION OF ZANZIBAR. + + +A curious sight is told of by a gentleman who was lately in Zanzibar. +'Perhaps the most vivid impression that I brought away from my hurried +visit to Zanzibar,' he says, 'was that of seeing the native carpenters +in the Cathedral carving the memorial to Bishop Smythies, and planing +with their toes, which were decked with silver rings!' + + + + +THE WRECK OF THE 'HOPE.' + +A True Story. + + +'What a lovely day!' said Eileen, as she sat by her little brother's +side, whilst John, the old boatman, rowed them across the bay. The +rarest shells were only to be found at the Point, and both children were +eager collectors. + +'It seems always smooth water in this bay,' said Maurice--'so different +from where we went last year in Cornwall. There the great, big waves +seemed always dashing against the shore.' + +'You wait a bit, Master Maurice!' said old John. 'You have only been +here a week or two, and it has been fine weather all the time; but when +a storm gets up, I will answer for it you would not know the place. +There are no fiercer waves round England than those that beat against +the cliffs yonder at times'--and the old man waved his hand at the +cliffs just behind him. + +'I should like to see a storm here,' said Maurice, as he clasped his +hands round his knees and stared thoughtfully before him. + +'Don't say that, sir,' answered John. 'It is a terrible thing, is a +wreck on this coast; some poor vessel is sure to be dashed against the +cruel cliffs in a storm, and then there are orphans and widows to mourn +her loss.' + +'Did you ever see a shipwreck?' asked Eileen. + +'Many a one, Missy,' was the old man's quiet answer. + +'But I mean, were you ever in a shipwreck?' pursued Eileen. + +'I was, once,' said John, slowly. + +'Oh, tell us about it, please!' begged Maurice. + +'It's a long time ago now,' said the old boatman. 'I was a lad of twelve +or thereabouts, on my first voyage. The vessel was the _Hope_, of +Liverpool, and we had a cargo of Manchester goods. It was roughish +weather when we started, and it kept on getting worse and worse, and +by-and-bye such a storm arose as it seemed impossible for any ship to +weather. Anyway, it was too much for the poor old _Hope_--she was driven +on to the rocks off the Welsh coast and broke up like matches.' + +'But the people on board! what became of them?' asked Eileen in an +awe-struck tone. + +'Drowned!' said old John, shortly. + +'But,' said Eileen, suddenly, 'you were on that ship--you said so--and +you are not drowned!' + +'No, Missy, I am not,' said the old man suddenly. 'I had a most wonderful +escape. It seems hard to believe that a little ignorant boy as I was +should have been the only one saved out of that fine crew; but so it was.' + +'Tell us about it,' said Maurice, fixing his eyes on the old man's +weather-beaten face. + +'When the storm was at its worst, and it was plain that the ship must +founder, a kind-hearted sailor took me with him to the top of the +main-mast. We had hardly got there before the ship gave a great lurch, +and I believe the mast fell. Anyway, when next I knew anything, I found +myself lying on the grass at the top of a low cliff, with the sea +roaring below me. I had been thrown there as the mast fell.' + +'Were you the only one saved?' asked Maurice. + +'So they told me,' said old John. 'But come,' he said, in a different +tone, and beginning to row at his utmost speed, 'we must get to the +Point before high tide, or there will be no shells for you to-day.' + +The mention of shells drove away the melancholy thoughts which John's +story had occasioned, and the wreck of the _Hope_ was forgotten as the +children landed at the Point and began eagerly searching for new +specimens. + +S. CLARENDON. + +[Illustration: "'It is a terrible thing, is a wreck on this coast.'"] + +[Illustration: "'Please do not shoot me!'"] + + + + +SPY OR GUIDE? + + +'I believe this forest goes on to the end of the world!' exclaimed the +Colonel of the 18th Hanoverian regiment at the close of an autumn day in +the year 1750. 'I was told it was a six hours' journey to Schustadt, but +it seems as if we must tramp right across Germany to reach it.' + +'I wonder if we have taken a wrong track?' answered the Major, who was +riding by his side, whilst behind trudged the men, their white breeches, +scarlet coats, and three-cornered hats looking strangely out of place in +that dense pine forest. + +'We must find out somehow,' said the Colonel, reining up his horse. +'There must be a peasant of some sort in these regions--a wood-cutter or +charcoal burner. Call a halt, Wenzler, and let the men scatter in +different directions, and tell the first who finds any one capable of +acting as guide to bring him straight to me.' + +The halt was called, the order given, and the soldiers disappeared +amongst the pine trunks, amidst laughter and declarations from each that +he would be the first to find a guide. The discovery, however, fell to +Schmidt, a young corporal, who had hardly gone a hundred yards into the +forest before he came on a lad who was amusing himself by gathering +raspberries. + +Schmidt was fond of what he called a joke, and laying a rough hand on +the lad's shoulder, he said, in a voice purposely very fierce, 'You are +my prisoner! I am to bring you to our Colonel, and you will probably be +shot as a spy.' + +The boy looked up in surprise, and turned pale as he answered: 'I am no +spy! I have come out from the town to gather raspberries!' + +'I know nothing about raspberries,' answered the man, still enjoying his +joke, and taking small heed of the lad's evident terror; 'I must bring +you before my Colonel,' and he dragged the terrified boy along the track +till he reached the spot where the two officers and some of the soldiers +were standing. + +'Well, Schmidt; first capture!' said the Colonel, in a pleased tone, for +he had not expected him to find any one in so short a time. + +'Yes, your honour,' said Schmidt, now releasing the boy, who, placing +his hands behind him, now addressed the Colonel in as firm a voice as he +could muster. + +'Please, Colonel,' he said, 'do not shoot me! I am not a spy--indeed I +am not! My name is Fritz Nestor, and I live with my mother in +Schustadt.' + +The men standing round could not resist smiling at this odd speech, for +they knew nothing of Schmidt's 'joke,' and the Colonel, bending down so +as to be more of a level with the little fellow, said in a half-puzzled +tone: + +'You surely cannot think we should shoot you! We are not in an enemy's +country, and if we were we do not shoot children. What could have put +such a ridiculous idea into your head?' + +'He said so,' said the boy, pointing to the corporal, whose very pigtail +quivered with fear at being thus brought to his Colonel's notice. + +The Colonel straightened himself and looked full at the corporal, who +was standing stiffly at his right hand. 'Next time you wish to play a +practical joke, corporal,' he said sternly, 'let it be with a man, and +not a child! Now, my little fellow,' he said, turning to the boy, 'you +may take my word for it that no one will hurt you. Can you show us the +right way to Schustadt? I suppose you know it?' + +'Oh, yes, sir,' said the boy brightly. 'It is barely a mile away.' + +'That is good hearing,' said the Colonel, and the men were quickly +recalled, and the march began once more, the boy stepping out bravely in +front of the column, much preferring the part of guide to that of a spy. + + + + +THE PROMISE OF THE STORM. + + + I do not mind the hurricane, + And biting winter rain; + I love to watch them sweep across + The woodland and the plain; + For as they roar the trees among, + I fancy I can hear + A whisper like a fairy's song: + 'The spring is drawing near.' + + I do not mind the gloomy days, + When clouds are dark and low, + And rough winds from the meadows tear + Their tattered sheets of snow; + For through those ragged holes I've seen + A sight the heart to cheer, + The face of some sweet flower that tells, + 'The spring is drawing near.' + + O children big, and children small, + This wisdom bear in mind: + Frown not on any rains that fall, + Nor grumble at the wind; + And when the gloomy winter's day + Is far from blithe and warm, + Look well, and think, and you will find + A promise in the storm. + + + + +A DANGEROUS TRAVELLER. + +A True Anecdote. + + +'Cab, Madam?' said a driver; and a lady who wanted a cab got hastily in. +But the driver had not proceeded very far before a loud scream from the +lady startled him. + +When he had recovered himself he got down, and opened the door of the +cab. A strange sight met his eyes: the poor lady was huddled up in one +corner, and a large and ugly snake reared its head angrily from the +floor of the cab. + +The driver helped the lady out, and shut the snake up in the cab, and +drove as fast as he could to the police station. He remembered then how +the keeper of a menagerie had that morning hired his vehicle. The +keeper, while he took his drive, had placed the snake, for safe-keeping, +under the seat of the cab, and, getting out at his journey's end, had +forgotten the snake! + +After some delay, a man was procured who killed the reptile; but it was +a long time before the lady cared to enter a cab again without searching +to see if there were any other travellers already in it. + + + + +PUZZLERS FOR WISE HEADS. + +ANSWER TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 371. + + +16.--1. Alexander the Great. + 2. Charlemagne. + 3. Queen Elizabeth. + 4. Catherine of Russia. + 5. Marie Antoinette. + 6. Cleopatra. + + + + +INDIAN WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. + + +Ages before the day when Marconi succeeded in establishing his wireless +telegraphy, the Indians of North America carried on a system of +signalling by smoke rings and fire arrows. + +The settler's wife, looking out from her lonely cabin on the prairie, at +the band of roving Indians, learned to note and understand the Indian +smoke signals, puffing lightly into the clear blue of the prairie sky. +These smoke signals are always sent in puffs or rings, so that there may +be no chance of mistaking them for a camp fire. The puffs are made by +covering a fire with a blanket for a minute. Then the blanket is lifted +quickly, and the smoke ascends in a ring or puff. The blanketing process +is repeated until a column of rings warns the Indians far and near to +'Look out,' or 'Be on the watch.' Two smokes built close together mean, +'Camp here.' Three smokes signal 'Danger.' + +Signalling at night was carried on by means of fire arrows. Their +meaning was like that of the smokes. The fiery trail left by the arrow +in its flight through the darkness was the same signal as one smoke. The +others tallied, and a flight of several fiery arrows said, 'The enemy +are too many for us.' + +ROSS FRAME. + + + + +CRUISERS IN THE CLOUDS. + +XII.--SOME WONDERS OF THE SKY. + + +Behind the clouds there are marvels as endless as those on the earth +itself. Among those who have attempted to describe some of them, few +have done so as vividly as the French astronomer, M. Flammarion. He has +been up in sunshine and clouds, at sunrise and sunset, and looked down +on the sleeping world all through the summer night. + +On one of these pleasant voyages, M. Flammarion had for some time been +sailing in a dense cloud, which made even the gas-bag above quite +invisible, when suddenly the air was filled with most beautiful music. +It seemed as though some mysterious band was playing in the very cloud +itself, only a few yards away. M. Flammarion strained his eyes in every +direction, but nothing except the white mist met his gaze. By-and-by, +however, the cloud grew brighter, and a few moments later the haze +seemed to open and let him into a world of dazzling light. He had +ascended right through the rain-cloud, and broken into fine weather on +the other side. On leaving the cloud the mysterious music had ceased. M. +Flammarion learned afterwards that it had been produced by the orchestra +of a small town over which he was sailing at the time. The rising sound +had been caught and retained by the cloud, for, strange to say, while +dead silence is found in the clear sky at a certain height, a cloud at +the same level will often be full of sounds coming from the world below. + +The object of M. Flammarion's voyage was to study the secrets of the +air, and to do this properly it was necessary to go up in all sorts of +weather. In a long journey from Paris across the border into Prussia, +most of the distance was done in a dark and rainy night. Finding that +the falling rain had made the balloon so heavy that it was sinking to +the earth, he threw out ballast and rose above the cloud. But the +struggling moon gave little light, and he was greatly struck by hearing, +in the darkness far below, the constant noise of the falling rain. The +sense of loneliness in such surroundings was very strong. + +Experiments from the floating car have proved that the best echo is +produced by the smooth surface of a lake. Thus when the balloon was once +over a large sheet of water, the traveller called out the names of the +stars reflected on its surface. Each name was echoed back with great +clearness, as though some fairy of the lake were mocking him. + +'Tell me, then,' cried the aeronaut at last, in fun, 'what the +inhabitants of these stars are like?' + +But no reply was made, for the balloon had sailed beyond the margin of +the water, and his voice had fallen on the solid earth. To obtain an +echo from _that_ is more difficult. + +On one occasion, wishing to find out if the balloon were rising or +falling, M. Flammarion dropped a bottle over the side of the car. To his +astonishment it stood in the air as though hanging there. It would have +been just the same if he had placed a table out there too, with a chair +beside it, and a knife and fork and plate upon it. He might have got out +himself and sat on the chair, and they would all have appeared to be +remaining still in mid-air. But as a matter of fact the bottle and the +balloon were descending to earth at exactly the same speed. This would +never do, and so a little ballast was thrown out. The bottle immediately +seem to shoot downwards, though not quite in a vertical line, for it +still moved with the impetus it had been given when thrown overboard. +Ten seconds later M. Flammarion saw it reach the earth in the centre of +a large field. + +Each voyage brought the explorer some fresh surprise; but we must say +good-bye to M. Flammarion and his balloon, for his discoveries and +adventures are too many to follow. Before, however, we end these cruises +in the clouds altogether, there is time for a word or two about the many +machines which have been made in the hope of enabling men to soar in the +skies without the aid of a balloon. Attempts to do this were made long +before the Montgolfiers sent up their paper bag at Annonay, and beyond +the fact that machines have been invented which can lift themselves into +the sky, very little progress has been really made. Perhaps the most +important of these inventions are those of Professor Langley and Sir +Hiram Maxim. After many years of labour, Professor Langley of Washington +succeeded, on May 6th, 1896, in launching his flying machine from the +shores of the Potomac. The broad sails, or 'aeroplanes,' as they are +called, cleaved the air like the wings of a bird, and kept up a steady +flight for a minute and a half. + +[Illustration: "The bottle stood in the air as though hanging there."] + +Somewhat similar in outward design is the huge mechanical bird built by +Sir Hiram Maxim. Broad stretches of canvas are arranged horizontally one +above the other, tilting a little upwards in front. Instead of legs and +feet, this strange bird has wheels running on rails. When the machine is +put in motion it skims over the rails at a great speed, and the effort +made by the 'aeroplanes' to climb the air shows a great power of flight. +But the machine is prevented from leaving the rails by a second pair of +small wheels running on the under-side, and the strain on these wheels +shows the strength of the giant wings; for Sir Hiram Maxim's only object +is to prove that aerial ships built in such a way would have great +buoyancy. A number of them, in a modified form, have been fitted to a +'giant longstride,' and many of the London boys and girls who have been +to the Exhibitions (at Earl's Court and elsewhere), where the longstride +stands, know something of the principle of the flying machine. + +But, after all, the greatest successes in human flight have been won in +fancy. And here again, the honour belongs to France, for what more +entrancing journey was ever made than that taken by the passengers in +the late Jules Verne's 'Clipper of the Clouds?' Built in the form of an +ocean-goer, but with large screws worked horizontally at the summits of +the masts, this flying ship made a journey round the world, visiting the +most distant countries, for when the broad, blue sky is the road no +obstacle can lie in the way. True, when the enchanting book is ended, we +know that it was only a dream, yet we must remember that many of the +great French author's dreams have been realised before now. + +JOHN LEA. + +[Illustration: "'Every day he went out and brought me in a hare or a +rabbit.'"] + + + + +ANIMAL MAKESHIFTS. + +True Anecdotes. + +VI.--READY-MADE HOMES. + + +When men first made houses, with a view to their own comfort, they +little thought that they were providing a ready-made home for a host of +outsiders, who took so readily to our quarters that we wonder where they +can have lived before. How did the stork get on without his chimney, the +merry sparrow without his gutter, the clothes-moth without cupboards, +the house-spider without dirty corners and ceilings? In Holland the +stork makes free with the house-top as a matter of course, often +dropping a stray eel, small snake, or frog, intended for his young, down +the chimney into the fireless grate of his astonished hosts below. He +knows that nobody would be cruel enough to meddle with that untidy +bundle of sticks which houses his family circle. The devotion of these +beautiful birds to the fluffy youngsters on the roof is an example to +those beneath it. In Turkey the stork is greatly respected, and lately +he has been better thought of than ever. A small village on the Gulf of +Ismidt caught fire, and over two hundred houses were destroyed. Many +storks' nests were there, and when the fire began to rage the terrified +birds fled pell-mell, but for a few moments only. After a brief pause +they recovered their presence of mind, and with a rush the same broad +wings which had hurried them away from death bore them as swiftly back +to the burning stacks, where, in each nest, there lay two or three +helpless young. The old birds settled down over the broods, covered them +with their wings, and one after another perished without another +attempt to save themselves. + +[Illustration: A Swallow's Nest on the Crank of a Bell-wire.] + +What the stork is abroad, the swallow is, or ought to be, in England, +honoured and admired. Here he makes his summer home, and for the few +months during which he stays amply earns his keep by clearing away the +swarms of flies. The number of injurious insects consumed by one pair of +swallows and their young during a single day cannot be less than one +thousand, and the number killed during the season is beyond calculation. + +Swallows are quick to avail themselves of ready-made nooks for their +nests. When the eaves and similar places will not do, they boldly enter +houses and churches, and take any spot that takes their fancy. A farmer +at Crux Eastern was honoured by a couple who chose a door inside his +home, and, when the nest was accidentally shaken down, pitched upon +another door. The farmer's wife, fearing that this nest would be +destroyed also, drove a large nail into the woodwork beneath as a +support. But Dame Swallow could not put up with this interference, and, +leaving the second nest, she chose the crank of a bell-wire in the +kitchen. Without more ado she built, laid eggs, and hatched them, though +the farmer gave a supper to his men while she was still house-keeping, +and while the sheep-shearers enjoyed their noisy feast, the little pair +flew in and out, feeding their young as quietly as if they were utterly +alone. + +Much might be said of the fondness shown by some unbidden guests for our +food, of the trickery of the mouse, or of the cricket's habit of +tumbling into the milk, while taking unlawful sips. But a plea can be +found even for the most despised of creatures. Cheese is a dainty to the +pilfering mouse, but the eggs of the cockroach are a still daintier +morsel. The cricket is a scavenger, and besides cheering us by his +sprightly song, rids the floor of tiny atoms of insanitary dust, and the +house-spider preys on the clothes-moth. One lesson at least is taught by +many a household insect, that of strict cleanliness. + +Besides our regular housemates, many strange creatures will live with us +in time of trouble, forgetful of their fear. The following is a true and +delightful instance of this. On one of the Highland hills an old woman +lived quite alone. After a severe snow-storm, some shepherds, fearing +for her safety, went to the rescue and found her hut snowed up. They +were unable to trace it till a curl of smoke was seen rising out of a +drift. The warmth had melted a small hollow just above the hole in her +roof which served as a chimney. Down this they called, 'Jenny, are you +living?' For answer a fox darted out of the hole and ran away. Again +they called. 'Yes,' answered the old woman. 'Heaven has been very good +to me. I have been fed by the beasts of the wood.' 'What do you mean?' +asked the men. She said, 'A wild fox came down the chimney to take +shelter. I spoke kindly to it, and it came and sat by the fire, and +every day he went out and brought me in a hare or a rabbit.' + +This story makes one feel how easily the fear and dread of us, which so +many creatures are forced to feel, might be changed into trust and love, +so that we might fulfil the text, 'The beast of the field shall be at +peace with thee.' + +EDITH CARRINGTON. + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 387._) + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +The Boxers had evidently heard that Charlie and the two Chinamen had +ventured to leave the shelter of the mission enclosure, and it was plain +that they had hoped to surprise them. And had they been a minute +earlier, they would undoubtedly have succeeded in doing so. In fact, the +foremost man was so close upon them that he seized the ladder just as it +was being raised, and, tugging hard, pulled it out of Barton's hands. +This capture, trivial though it was, filled the Boxers with enthusiasm. +With fierce shouts they rushed at the gates and attacked them with +hatchets. But, as the gates were of iron, and had been made and fixed +with the intention of resisting such assaults, their efforts were in +vain. Soon they recognised that they were wasting their strength, and, +at a signal from their leader, they turned away and ran to seek shelter. +Soon there was not a living Boxer visible to the missionaries and their +friends. + +They had had enough fighting for one day, and did not again expose +themselves. The besieged party took the opportunity to strengthen their +defences and make other preparations for a long siege. + +'I hope,' Barton said, in answer to a question from Charlie, 'that we +shall be relieved within a week from to-day, as the missionaries who had +to seek shelter here sent trustworthy messengers to Peking and +Wei-hai-wei with letters to the British officials, telling them of their +sufferings and whither they were bound; and the day before you arrived I +sent off two messengers with notes for the captain of any British +warship they could find, stating that we were besieged.' + +About ten o'clock on the following morning the Boxers renewed their +attack, but in a manner which the defenders had not expected. Instead of +rushing into the open, as they had done before, they fired from the +houses facing the mission building. + +'Get the women and children into the basement at once,' Barton shouted +to one of his colleagues, for some of the Boxers were firing from the +roofs of the houses into the mission enclosure. + +'The Boxers take good care to keep under cover,' Charlie remarked. +'Evidently we have taught them to respect us.' + +'They won't remain concealed for many hours,' said Ping Wang. 'When they +get excited they will make another attack on the gate.' + +His words came true. For nearly one hour the Boxers continued to fire +upon the missionaries' house, doing severe damage to it. Their success +elated them, and the fact that the besieged did not reply to the attack +probably made them believe that they had used up all their ammunition. +At any rate, they suddenly rushed out of the houses and made for the +mission gate, waving flags and shouting wildly. Fred and Barton, at some +newly-made loop-holes, and Charlie, Mr. Wilkins, and Ping Wang at their +former positions, fired rapidly at the advancing mob, which, with loud +shouts and wild gestures, rushed at the gate to make another attempt to +destroy it. But the gate resisted all their efforts. + +'Oh, for a Maxim!' Charlie sighed. 'That would disperse them.' + +'So would boiling water,' Mr. Wilkins remarked, 'but we can't spare it. +I wonder----' + +What Mr. Wilkins intended to say was never known, for at that moment +Number One, who was stationed, revolver in hand, some yards away, hailed +them excitedly: 'Lun, lun!' he shouted; 'Boxer man climbee up ladder +plenty quick.' + +Charlie and Mr. Wilkins looked out from among the sandbags, and saw that +the Boxers had placed two ladders a foot or two to the left of where +Number One was posted. As the defenders looked out, some who had +remained under cover fired at them. Charlie drew back instantly, for a +bullet passed within an inch of his head, and, hurrying down from his +platform, ran to the spot where the Boxers hoped to scale the wall. One +of them was already on it. He dropped from the wall into the mission +enclosure, and rushed with wild shouts at Number One, who fired but +failed to hit him. But Charlie was close at hand, and, when the Boxer +was about ten yards from Number One he pressed the trigger of his rifle, +and the daring fanatic fell. But four more Boxers had dropped into the +enclosure, and, not daunted by the fate of their comrade, were rushing +at Charlie and Number One. The latter fired his revolver, and, to his +great surprise, shot the foremost Boxer in the left leg. Almost at the +same moment Charlie put another out of the fight, but, before he could +reload, the third Boxer was close upon him. Dropping the cartridge, +Charlie grasped his rifle in both hands near the muzzle, and, swinging +it over his shoulder, brought the butt down on his assailant's head. The +fourth man, seeing the fate of his comrades, tried to escape, but his +efforts were fruitless. + +'Tell him to surrender,' Charlie said to Number One. + +Number One did so, and the Boxer at once went down on his knees, and, +bending forward, placed his forehead and the palms of his hands on the +ground. + +'Get some rope and bind him securely,' Charlie instructed Number One, +who obeyed at once. + +Several other Boxers had been sitting on top of the wall, watching the +fight, and, when they saw that their comrades were getting the worst of +it, instead of going to their help, they retired quickly to join the +mob, which, however, had once more taken to flight. The gallant little +band of defenders were, naturally, very pleased at their victory, which, +alas! they soon discovered was very dearly bought. To their great grief, +the veteran missionary, Mr. Wilkins, had been shot through the throat +and was dead. Evidently the fatal wound had been received when he looked +out to see if the Boxers really were climbing the wall. He was buried at +sunset in a corner of the mission enclosure, and his death cast a gloom +over the defenders. + +Two weeks passed away, and there was still no news of the long-expected +relief. Food was so scarce that it was indeed wonderful how the besieged +managed to exist. Four of them had died, and were now lying in the +little cemetery in the corner of the enclosure. Others were seriously +ill, and it was feared that, unless relief came speedily, they, too, +would soon succumb. + +The Boxers had altered their plans on finding that they could not carry +the mission buildings by assault, and now relied upon starving out the +defenders. By day or by night scarcely a single Boxer was to be seen, +although hundreds were within a stone's-throw. Every building that could +be seen from the mission had a Boxer flag planted on it, and every house +facing it had been fortified. From these houses the Boxers, day and +night, fired on the mission, the residential part of which, except the +basement, was in a ruined condition. To cross from the platforms to the +mission house was a work of danger, for some trained Chinese soldiers, +who had joined the Boxers, were by no means bad shots, and, as they +could look down into the enclosure, they fired every time that one of +the defenders was seen. They used a large amount of ammunition, but +without drawing the fire of the missionaries and their friends. + +Another week passed--the most disastrous that the besieged had gone +through. Two more of them had died from fatigue, fever, and want of +proper food. The mule which had drawn the missionaries' trap for some +years, had been killed and skinned, and in the course of two or three +days the last of it would be eaten. When that was gone there would not +be an atom of food left. If it had not been for the women and children, +the men would have made a sortie and died facing overwhelming odds. + +'We must remain where we are for their sake,' Barton declared, and the +rest agreed with him. Then they discussed how to make the remainder of +the mule-flesh last a day or two longer than they hoped; but they were +already on such short rations that it was almost impossible to reduce +them. + +'What's that?' Charlie exclaimed, suddenly. 'Didn't you hear anything?' + +'Only those two shots which the Boxers fired,' Fred replied. + +'No, not that. I thought I heard a cheer.' + +'Imagination, I'm afraid,' Barton said, sorrowfully, but he had scarcely +uttered the words when the sound of firing in the distance was heard +distinctly. + +'Relief!' Charlie declared, excitedly. 'I'm certain it was an English +cheer which I heard.' + +'The firing is outside the town,' Ping Wang remarked, 'and the Boxers +have heard it. Look, they're leaving their shelter.' + +The sound of the firing had evidently caused the greatest excitement +among the Boxers. They streamed out of the houses and ran off in the +direction of the gates through which the advancing force, whether friend +or foe, would have to enter the town. + +The sound of firing in the distance now became louder, and it was plain +that a fierce fight was raging somewhere near the town gates. Soon they +knew that the force attacking the town was winning, for several +terror-stricken Chinamen rushed past the mission, seeking some place in +which to hide. + +(_Continued on page 402._) + +[Illustration: "Charlie grasped his rifle in both hands."] + +[Illustration: "'This is a delightful surprise.'"] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Continued from page 399._) + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +Three-quarters of an hour after the first sound of firing was heard by +Charlie and his friends, a loud, unmistakably British cheer rang through +the air. + +'They've entered the town,' Fred exclaimed, and cheered wildly. Every +Englishman, and Ping Wang also, joined in the cheer. Then they fell into +silence, listening to the distant sounds. The Boxers were yelling +furiously, hoping to terrify the Englishmen who had entered the town. + +'They're marching straight through the town,' one of the missionaries +declared anxiously. 'Perhaps they don't know that we are here.' + +'They are certain to be aware of that,' Barton answered. 'No doubt they +are going to secure the other gate.' + +'My cally message to Number One soldier man,' Number One suggested. 'Say +Clistian missionalies big piecee hungy.' + +'But the Boxers might kill you,' Barton hinted. + +'Boxer man nebber killee me. My plenty clebber. Boxer man nebber catchee +me.' + +'All right then; you may go.' + +Number One grinned with delight, and, when the bamboo ladder had been +lowered over the wall, went off at a run. + +Charlie, Fred, and their friends found the time pass very slowly. They +could hear that the English were fighting their way steadily through the +town, and every minute their anxiety to see their gallant countrymen +increased. Presently a loud British cheer told them that the other gate +had been captured. The firing now became less frequent, and in about ten +minutes it ceased entirely. + +The excitement in the mission enclosure was now intense. The surviving +women and children came out of the basement where they had been +prisoners for more than three weeks, and climbed up on the platforms to +get the first view of their deliverers. The native Christians, who had +borne the hardships of the siege uncomplainingly, chatted and laughed +gaily. The sick and wounded lay in the little hospital with their eyes +fixed on the door. + +'They're coming!' Charlie shouted a few minutes later, and the good news +thrilled both Englishmen and Chinamen. + +The tramp of drilled men came nearer and nearer, and soon from out of +the street, almost facing the mission buildings, marched a British naval +officer. He gave a swift glance along the wall, and seeing the men and +women peering through the sandbags, he saluted them with his sword. They +answered him with a cheer, and instantly some fifty smiling, sun-burnt +tars burst into a loud 'Hip, hip, hoorah!' + +With the smartness characteristic of our navy the men were formed up in +a line with their backs to the mission wall. The officer in command gave +one look at them, and then almost ran up the ladder which Barton had +lowered. + +'It is!' Charlie exclaimed, delightedly, as the officer reached the top +of the ladder. 'It's our old friend Williams.' + +'So it is,' Fred declared, as he recognised the officer of the revenue +cutter, who had captured the coper in which his brother and Ping Wang +were unwilling passengers. + +Williams heard his name mentioned as he vaulted over the wall on to the +platform, and the next moment he recognised his friends. + +'Well, this is a delightful surprise!' he exclaimed, as he grasped +Charlie's hand. + +'It's still more delightful for us,' Fred declared. + +'You've had a very rough time, I fear,' said Williams, when he had +shaken hands with his three friends. 'You look almost like skeletons, +every man of you. However, you shall soon have a good feed.' + +'Shall we open the gate?' Barton asked, when he and his colleagues had +been introduced to Williams. + +'Certainly,' Williams replied; but when he saw how securely the gate had +been barricaded, he knew that the task would be more than the +half-starved defenders of the mission could accomplish. + +'I'll call some of my men to do it,' he said, and in a few moments +twelve jovial, sun-burnt, travel-stained sailors had climbed the ladder +and entered the enclosure. Instantly the men, women, and children +surrounded them, grasping their hands, and showering blessings on them. + +'Come along, men,' Williams shouted out. 'Down with that barricade, and +open the gates.' + +The sailors started their work at once. In a few minutes the barricade, +which had taken the missionaries some days to build, was torn down, and +the gates thrown open. Number One was the first person to enter the +enclosure. He carried a big bowl of cooked rice, which was probably +loot, and, hurrying to the ladies and children, placed the tempting dish +before them. + +'Welly good,' he declared, emphatically; 'makee plenty stlong.' + +When every one had had as much as was safe after their long fast, +Williams drew Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang aside. 'I suppose you haven't +succeeded in getting that treasure?' he said. + +'No, but we got very close to it,' Charlie replied, and then told him of +their adventures in Kwang-ngan. + +'You've been unfortunate,' Williams admitted. 'However, I'll see what I +can do. We expect some Japanese troops here to-morrow, and as soon as +they arrive we are all going to march on Kwang-ngan. Tell me exactly +where the idol is.' + +'Let us go to Kwang-ngan with you,' Charlie suggested. + +'But, my dear fellows,' Williams replied, 'you're not in a fit state for +any more fighting.' + +'It's only sleep we want,' Charlie declared. 'We shall be as fit as any +one after we have had a good long rest.' + +'If that's the case, I shall be glad of your company; but you must turn +in at once.' + +'Before we do that we want to know how it is that you are here. When we +last saw you, you had no idea of going to China.' + +'Well, I'll soon explain that. My capture of that coper on which I found +you and Ping Wang won the approval of the authorities, and, fortunately +for me, I was able to effect another capture, about three weeks later. +Soon afterwards I received orders to go up to London, and in less than a +week I was on my way to China to join my present ship.' + +Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang heartily congratulated their friend, but he +cut them short by telling them that if they wanted to accompany him to +Kwang-ngan they would have to turn in at once, and get as much sleep as +possible. + +'If that's the case, good-night,' Charlie replied, and all the three +hurried away to their beds in the basement, and slept soundly. + +When they awoke they found that the Japanese troops had arrived, and +that the British sailors were to start within half an hour for +Kwang-ngan. After a rapid but hearty breakfast they marched out, with +the rifles at the shoulder, to report themselves to Williams, whom they +found outside the enclosure inspecting the men. Some of the newly +arrived Japanese soldiers had already been posted around the mission +wall, and the Japanese flag flew, side by side with the Union Jack, over +the gateway. + +'Well,' Williams exclaimed, cheerfully, as he shook hands with Charlie, +'do you still wish to come with us?' + +'Certainly,' Charlie replied, speaking for all three of them. + +'Then you had better say "good-bye" to your missionary friends, for they +must all start for Tien-tsin this morning. They will be safer there.' + +Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang hurried back to the mission buildings, but +Barton was the only one of their late comrades in danger who was not +sound asleep. They bade farewell to him, and extracted a promise from +him that when next he came to England he would visit them at Lincoln. + +While they had been talking, Williams had marched his men off towards +the town gate which opened into the road leading to Kwang-ngan. Charlie, +Fred, and Ping Wang ran after them and overtook them just as they were +quitting the town. They fell in at the rear of the company. Nine of the +ten miles which lay between Su-ching and Kwang-ngan were covered in +about two hours and a half, and they proceeded more cautiously, but for +some time met with no opposition, although, when they drew near +Kwang-ngan they were surprised to find that it was a very +formidable-looking place, bristling with big guns. + +'They are not guns,' Ping Wang declared, smiling. 'They are simply +circles which the Boxers have painted on the walls to represent guns, in +the hope of frightening us.' + +'But I was told that they had two guns,' said Williams. + +'That is correct. One is mounted on either side of the gate.' + +Ping Wang had barely finished speaking when both guns boomed, and their +range was excellent, the shells bursting among the sailors. One man was +killed and six were wounded. Charlie was thrown to the ground, but, much +to his surprise, he found on getting up that he was not hurt. + +The sailors now advanced quickly, and the Chinese gunners being +apparently unable to alter their range, the shells passed harmlessly +over their heads. + +The attacking party soon got to within three hundred yards from the +town, and the Boxers lining the wall, having so far received no hurt, +became reckless. A few of them fired their rifles, but three hundred +yards is a long range for most Chinamen, and not one of them succeeded +in doing any damage. Nevertheless, Williams considered that the time had +arrived to give the Boxers a warning. He gave the order to his men to +lie down and fire a volley. It was a splendid one, and the terror which +it caused among the Boxers was almost comical. The uninjured men hid +themselves instantly, and not a single threat, or shout of defiance was +heard from them as the sailors sprang to their feet and ran a hundred +yards nearer to the wall. + +They lay there unmolested for three or four minutes until the 'advance' +was again sounded. As they rushed forward, the Boxers opened fire upon +them with rifles and bows and arrows, and three men fell. But their +comrades, breaking into a loud cheer, continued their advance, and +arrived at the wall with but few casualties on the way. They had brought +from Su-ching twelve long bamboo ladders, and these were speedily placed +against the wall at a few yards distance from each other. The Japanese +also had provided themselves with ladders. + +At the signal from their officers, the men climbed nimbly up the +ladders, and all along the south wall the fight became fierce. Many of +the attacking party were shot before they reached the topmost rung, but +their fall simply added to the determination of their comrades, and in a +few minutes nearly a score of them had scaled the wall, and were engaged +in a desperate hand-to-hand fight with the Boxers. + +Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang were not among the first dozen to enter the +town, as the sailors who had fixed the ladder by which they wished to +ascend declared that it was their right to be the first to mount it. + +When the Chinamen found that they were unable to drive out the men who +had entered the town, and that others were scrambling over the wall to +their assistance, they turned and fled, closely pursued by the sailors. +Within twenty minutes the whole English force held the village. Before +long, Fred, Charlie, and Ping Wang found themselves close to the wall of +Chin Choo's residence. + +(_Concluded on page 410._) + + + + +TOYS FROM THE STREETS. + +(_Concluded from page 390._) + + +There is not much to be said about our last batch of toys. The cat and +her kittens is a wonderful toy for the money; and the round box with a +crown on top is a good place to keep the pennies for the next Christmas. +The doll in a box, the two other dolls, the fans, and the frog, are all +actually made in Japan, and shipped to England. Fancy the little +Japanese boys and girls turning their hands--for these toys are all made +by hand--to work just to give pleasure to little boys and girls far off +in other countries! The reason why these Japanese toys can be made so +cheaply and sent so far, and yet sold at a profit, is that the Japanese, +old and young alike, are able to live much more frugally and cheaply +than Europeans. Japanese shipping companies, too, are anxious to get +trade, and carry the toys very cheaply: during the war they actually +guaranteed owners against loss or capture by the enemy. + +[Illustration: More Toys from the Streets.] + +But we must say good-bye to these toys. Remember, if you are fortunate +enough to possess any of them, from what distant lands they come, and +what pains are taken in making them. Remember, too, what a hard life the +poor men and women who sell them have. These toys, like most other +gifts, teach the old Christmas lesson of kindness to others and +thankfulness for blessings. + +[Illustration: "We charged at the midst of the foe."] + + + + +AGAINST ODDS. + + + We knew, on that white frosty morning, + Our rivals would make an attack, + But doubt and timidity scorning, + We held on our snow-covered track. + + They burst from their gate helter-skelter; + We counted them--four against two! + There wasn't a moment for shelter, + And what could we possibly do? + + The snow-balls like bullets were flying, + Retreat was unworthy and mean; + So, all their wild volley defying, + I slipped my umbrella between. + + Then I called to my friend, and together, + Half sheltered behind it, you know, + The storm of the battle to weather, + We charged at the midst of the foe. + + The gateway they bravely defended, + Till forced through the half-open door, + And thus, in a victory, ended + The battle of two against four. + + + + +HIS FIRST WOLF HUNT. + +By HAROLD ERICSON. + +(_Concluded from page 391._) + + +When we reached Cronstadt Tom's ankle pained him a good deal; he had +skated five miles upon it, and the injured part was swollen. + +'What about getting home?' I asked in some anxiety, but Tom declared +that after a couple of hour's rest at the inn in Cronstadt, where we +were stopping for a meal, his foot would be as well as ever it had been. +So it was, he said, when, at about two o'clock in the afternoon, we +started for home. But there was no life in his skating, and presently he +admitted that it hurt him badly. Two miles were covered with pain and +difficulty, and many stoppages. Matters began to grow somewhat serious; +at least, I thought so, though I said nothing of my fears. We were +sitting on the ice, Tom holding his ankle against it in hopes that the +cold would reduce the inflammation, when a sound in the distance caused +us both to raise our heads. Several black specks had suddenly appeared +upon the white ice-field behind us. Were they a party of skaters? Were +they---- + +'I say!' suddenly exclaimed Tom. 'Wolves!' + +I am not ashamed to say that my heart sank when my companion pronounced +the black, moving spots in the distance to be wolves. I was afraid of +wolves, and always had been; I think most boys and girls generally are, +and I fancy that 'Little Red Riding Hood' is more or less to blame for +it, together with other tales in which these animals figure. + +I was frightened, very frightened. My first impulse was to take to my +skates and fly like the wind before the coming terror. Then, like a jet +of cold water, came the thought of Tom's bad ankle. He had risen to his +feet, however, at sight of the wolves, and evidently meant to forget his +sprain. + +'We had better be off, old chap,' he said. 'They are coming our way. We +can race them well enough on skates. It's nearer to Cronstadt than to +the half-way hut, but they could cut us off on our way to Cronstadt, +and, besides, there is all that horrible cat-ice near the harbour. Are +you ready? Skate steadily, then; no need to get done up.' + +I said nothing about his ankle, trusting that the greater trouble might +possibly have driven away all recollection of the lesser, and for a mile +we skated evenly and rapidly forward. Occasionally we looked back over +our shoulders to see how we were holding our pursuers, for undoubtedly +we were being pursued. We seemed to hold our own fairly well; they had +gained upon us, no doubt, but not very much. At this rate there was no +danger of our being caught--if only, that is, Tom's ankle did not 'go.' +But, alas! scarcely had we covered that one mile when my companion +pulled up. + +'I can't go on another yard without resting my ankle, Bobby,' he said. +'Go on without me, old chap, I shall think none the worse of you; you +couldn't do me any good, you know, if they caught me; besides, look +here.' To my surprise and delight Tom suddenly produced from an inner +pocket a small revolver. He was sitting on the ground now, and he loaded +the little weapon with cartridges, which he took out of his waistcoat +pocket. 'This will keep them at bay all right, so, you see, I'm as safe +as ninepence. Go on, don't waste time.' + +'Don't be an idiot,' said I. 'You must think me a pretty average cad if +you suppose I am going to leave you alone and run away.' + +Tom glanced up at me and smiled. 'To tell you the truth, old chap, I +never supposed you would,' he said; 'but I had to make the suggestion.' + +'Why didn't you tell me you had the revolver?' I asked, ignoring the +rest of his speech; 'and what made you bring it?' + +'My father said he had known wolves about the gulf in severe weather. I +said nothing about it for fear you wouldn't care to come. Look at the +brutes, they're only a quarter of a mile away! I feel better now; let's +see how far I can get this time. If they come too near, I shall fire a +shot. Unfortunately I only brought these six cartridges, so we must not +waste our fire.' + +For a few hundred yards Tom travelled well. We gained on the wolves, +which, I suppose, observed this fact, for the leader suddenly set up a +howl which set my blood running cold, and the others instantly followed +suit. There were nine of them; I had counted them while Tom rested. + +Manfully Tom struggled on. I could see that the exertion was hurting him +fearfully. + +'I don't think I can go on _very_ much farther without a rest,' he said, +presently. 'The trouble is that next time we wait about they will catch +us up.' + +'Then you will have to shoot, that's all,' said I, as cheerfully as I +could, considering that I was in reality shivering with terror. + +'Yes, I shall have to shoot. One shot will be enough, I expect. Probably +they will turn and run straight back to the forest at Lachta or +Oranienbaum, or wherever they come from. You are not frightened, old +chap, are you?' + +'_Rather_ not,' said I. Then I added, conscientiously, 'At least, not +_very_ much. It's--it's rather a new experience for me, you see.' + +A minute later Tom pulled up and sat down. + +'Come behind me,' he said, 'just in case any of these brutes _should_ +spring at us before I get my little toy to work on them. I shan't shoot +until they are within ten yards or so. I want to make sure of one, then +they will stop and eat him if they don't run away.' + +I got behind Tom and crouched down, and we watched them coming. They +were now in full cry, heads down, like a pack of hounds. When within +fifty yards of us, the leader raised his head and saw us. He gave a +great yelp, and came scudding along, followed by his band. At twenty +yards they slowed down and stopped, seeming to lose heart. Suddenly one +sat down on his haunches, and his example was followed by two or three +others. + +As for me, my teeth were all a-chatter with terror. I wished to suggest +to Tom that he should try the effect of a careful shot at one of the +sitting wolves, but no words would come. I felt as though I were in the +grip of a night-mare, awake to the horror of our position, and yet quite +helpless. Tom suddenly spoke. + +'I am going to fire,' he said. 'Don't speak or move for a minute.' He +pointed his pistol, took a long aim, and pulled the trigger. + +No wolf fell, but the shot produced a curious effect. + +In an instant every wolf of the nine had 'dispersed' as though the pack +had been scattered by some mysterious force. They fled in every +direction except towards us. Tom uttered a cry of triumph. For a hundred +or two yards the wolves careered as though they were mad. At a furlong's +distance every wolf stopped and turned round. Not one of them uttered a +sound. + +'What a bad shot!' said Tom. 'Idiot that I was! I don't understand these +things. Are you any good with them?' + +I had found my tongue, and replied that I had practised at a mark +occasionally. 'You take one more shot, and then let me try one,' I +suggested. + +'Good,' said Tom. 'I have been thinking. It's only about a mile to that +wide crack, the ten-footer. I think I could skate as far as that with an +effort. When we get near, I'll rest if necessary, and after that we will +fly it. I doubt if the wolves will follow us over.' + +This was an excellent idea. We started off. If either of us had hoped +that the savage brutes at our heels would have been discouraged from +further pursuit, we were soon disappointed, for within a minute all nine +were again in full cry after us at two hundred yards' distance. For +three-quarters of a mile Tom skated on in agony. + +'Now we will stop, and I will fire my second shot,' he said. + +Once more our nine snarling friends found discretion the better part of +their valour, and stopped at a biscuit-toss from us, whining and howling +and looking grim enough to frighten the most iron nerves. Perhaps Tom's +hand shook a bit; at any rate, he missed again, and handed me over the +revolver with an exclamation of disgust. And again the wolves retired, +but not so far away this time. + +We waited two or three minutes. + +'Now we'll go,' said Tom, 'and this time we will reach and fly the +water-jump without stopping. Let them come close to our heels till we +are within fifty yards, then put on all the pace we can, and over we go. +I want to see whether we can't drown one or two of the brutes; they +don't look where they are going.' + +We carried out this programme to the letter. At fifty yards from the +fissure we put on all the pace we could command, and we flew the open +water side by side, Tom clearing it beautifully in spite of the wrench +it gave him to do so. Then we stopped. + +Having gone slowly for the last quarter of a mile, we had allowed the +wolves to gain upon us. This had excited them, and as we cleared the +water we could hear them in full bay close behind us. I dare say the +sound at our heels gave us wings. + +The pack reached the fissure but ten yards behind us. The leader and +three others realised too late that they must rise to a leap; they +endeavoured to stop, but their impetus carried them over the edge and +into the water; of the rest, two leaped in a half-hearted manner, being +in two minds whether to stop or jump; both fell short into the water. +The last three cleared the fissure, and these, of course, occupied our +attention, for, too excited to remember discretion this time, they made +straight for us, open-mouthed. Tom had hurriedly taken off one skate, +and stood swinging it behind me, intending to make a fight of it. As for +me, when the nearest wolf--looking all fangs and blazing eyes--was five +yards from me, I pulled the trigger. I think I shut my eyes, but of this +I am not quite certain. + +To my complete astonishment, the wolf came rolling and tumbling to my +feet, made an effort to rise, swayed and fell back dead. The other two +turned, took the fissure at a bound, and fled away. In the water two +wolves were still struggling; the rest had presumably gone under the ice +while endeavouring to climb over the slippery edge. Tom snatched the +pistol from me with a cheer; he put the muzzle to the ear of one of the +wolves and fired, killing him on the spot. The last made an heroic +effort, and succeeded in climbing out on the farther side. We pulled +Tom's wolf ashore. + +Then we sat, like two children, and shouted and howled for joy and +triumph. We took off our skates and pocketed them, and fastening the +straps around the necks of our wolves, we actually dragged them, with +many stoppages, to the half-way hut. Here I left Tom, whose ankle was +swollen to the size of a dumpling, and skated home as fast as I could +move, realising that our 'people' might be anxious if some one did not +come to tell the tale. I went on winged feet, so happy was I, and I +think if a pack of five thousand wolves had fled howling at my heels, I +should not have cared much. + +I soon got back, and a relief party was at once sent in the ice-yacht to +fetch Tom away in triumph. + +[Illustration: "As we cleared the water we could hear the wolves close +behind."] + +[Illustration: The treasure at last.] + + + + +AFLOAT ON THE DOGGER BANK. + +A Story of Adventure on the North Sea and in China. + +(_Concluded from page 403._) + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +'Now's our time to get the treasure,' Charlie said. 'The fighting is +nearly at an end, and the sailors won't want our help now.' + +'Come along, then,' Fred answered; 'and I hope that we shall do better +this time than last.' + +Much to their surprise they found that the gate was open. + +'Chin Choo has fled,' Ping Wang declared, on seeing that the gate was +unprotected, and they heard later in the day that the rascally mandarin, +after making a very warlike speech to his countrymen, had sneaked out of +the town, and was on his way to Peking. + +As Charlie, Fred, and Ping Wang entered Chin Choo's enclosure they were +more excited than ever they had been during the siege of Su-ching, or +the storming of Kwang-ngan; for they knew that in a few minutes they +would discover whether or not their journey to China had been a +fruitless one. Several of Chin Choo's servants, their pockets and arms +loaded with loot, hurried out at the back of the house as Charlie, Fred, +and Ping Wang approached it. They did not interfere with the thieves, +but the thought that they had, perhaps, already taken away the idol +occurred to each of them. They quickened their speed, and ran up the +verandah steps together. + +'There is the idol!' Ping Wang exclaimed, excitedly; and Charlie and +Fred saw a brass image standing in the corner of a room which opened +from the verandah. + +Ping Wang went down on his knees, and grasping the right forearm of the +image, tugged at it. To the amazement of Charlie and Fred, he pulled the +idol's arm forward from its body until it was in an almost horizontal +position. Then, placing his fingers on the spot where the idol's hand +had lain, he pushed to the right its crossed legs, and showed to Charlie +and Fred that the brass pedestal on which the figure sat was practically +a jewel-box. + +'Marvellous!' Charlie muttered; but his and Fred's delight was greater +still when Ping Wang took out of it a little piece of cloth, and, +unrolling it, exhibited an immense ruby. + +'There are at least thirty as good as this one,' Ping Wang declared, +joyfully; but, as he spoke, a noise was heard in Chin Choo's enclosure. + +'Shut it up quickly,' Charlie said; and just as Ping Wang had done so a +middy rushed into the room, accompanied by four sailors. + +'Hallo!' he exclaimed, on recognising them as friends of Williams. 'What +are you doing here?' + +'Oh, we captured the place some ten minutes ago,' Charlie declared, +cheerfully. + +'Then why don't you guard what you have captured?' the youngster asked, +sharply. 'There is no one posted at the gate, and the place could have +been recaptured easily.' + +Having said this the lad departed with his men in search of some more +exciting experience. + +'He was quite right,' Fred declared. 'The Boxers might have come upon us +suddenly, as he did. I will go to the gate; you two stay here and guard +the image.' + +Fred's period of sentry-go was a short one, for he had not been at the +gate more than ten minutes when he saw Williams advancing, with a +portion of his force, towards him. + +'Well, have you found it?' Williams asked, after he had acknowledged +Fred's salute. + +'Yes,' replied Fred. + +'That's very good news. I was half afraid that you had come out here on +a wild-goose chase.' + +Williams said nothing more on that subject just then, for he had much +more important business needing his attention. + +Such Boxers as had not been put out of action, and had been unable to +seek safety in flight, had cast away their yellow badges, and passed +themselves off as peaceful citizens. Williams knew very well that the +people were not so well disposed towards the Anglo-Japanese force as +they pretended, and ordered a sharp look-out to be kept. It was an +anxious time, and it was not until ten o'clock at night that, satisfied +he had taken every possible precaution, Williams returned to Chin Choo's +house, which he had made his headquarters, for an hour or two's rest. + +'I congratulate you heartily,' Williams said, when Ping Wang showed him +the treasure. 'And now the best thing you three can do is to get out of +the country as quickly as possible. As long as you are in China you will +run great risks of being robbed. I advise you to return to Su-ching +early to-morrow morning, and make your way back to England. My +instructions are to hold this town until I am reinforced, but it is +quite possible that the Boxers will try to recover it before the +reinforcements arrive. Therefore, the sooner you quit this place the +more likely you will be to get away unhurt.' + +'I don't much like leaving you at a time like this,' Charlie replied; +'but I suppose we ought to. The question is, how are we to carry our +treasure?' + +'The best way,' Ping Wang declared, 'will be for us to divide it into +three packages, and each take charge of one.' + +The packing being finished, the four friends sat down to have a chat. Of +course they spoke chiefly of the Boxer rising, but they discussed also +the latest news from the outside world, and finally talked of home. + +'Now,' Williams said, when they had chatted for about an hour, 'you had +better turn in, for you must start as soon after daybreak as possible. I +should advise you to draw some of those rugs together, and sleep here. +That's what I'm going to do.' + +The friends soon made up, on the floor, four comfortable beds. Williams +was sound asleep a few minutes after lying down; but Charlie, Fred, and +Ping Wang lay awake for fully an hour, so excited were they at having +obtained the treasure for which they had come so far. However, they fell +asleep eventually, but only, as it seemed to them, to be aroused almost +immediately by Williams. + +'Your breakfast is ready,' he declared, cheerfully, 'and your carriages +are awaiting you. I have hired a palanquin and coolies for each of you, +and some extra coolies to carry the idol, as Ping Wang wants that too.' + +'I say, that will be travelling in style. How long have you been up?' +Charlie said. + +'I went out four hours ago, and have just returned.' + +Then the palanquins were brought to the foot of the verandah stairs. + +'Good-bye, and God bless you, all three!' Williams said, and shook hands +heartily with his friends. + +'God bless you, old fellow!' Charlie said; 'and don't forget to look us +up when you return to England.' + +The procession of palanquins passed out through the streets and along +the road to Su-ching. The bearers were hard-working fellows, and +shuffled along, half-running and half-walking, at a pace which made the +distance from Kwang-ngan appear very short to the travellers. On +entering Su-ching, Ping Wang directed the bearers to carry them to the +mission, but, on arriving there, a Japanese officer told them that +Barton and his friends had started for Tien-tsin the afternoon before. + +After remaining at Kwang-ngan for about an hour Ping Wang hired fresh +palanquins, and they resumed their journey. It was a very uneventful +one, for the Boxers had been cleared out of that part of the country; +the only exciting moment being when some Russian or Japanese sentry +barred their progress. The arrival of an interpreter on the scene always +resulted in the travellers being allowed to continue their journey. + +On arriving at the river, they soon found a boatman to take them down to +Tien-tsin, and thence they went straight to Hong-kong, where they +remained four days as the guest of their former host. In Hong-kong they +procured new clothes, and when they went aboard the homeward-bound +steamer they felt, for the first time for many weeks, that they need not +be ashamed of their appearance. + +Fine weather and very agreeable fellow-passengers made the voyage to +England an enjoyable one, but, nevertheless, the Pages and Ping Wang +were delighted when, at last, the ship reached London. Mr. Page was +waiting for his sons on the landing-stage, and was so pleased at seeing +them back safe and sound that he almost forgot at first to ask them +about their adventures. He was, naturally, delighted with their news. + +As soon as possible the jewels were valued by a London diamond merchant, +who looked at them very carefully, and, after some thought, offered a +price which startled the Pages and Ping Wang. They gladly accepted the +offer, and returned home in high spirits to Lincoln, where they enjoyed +themselves thoroughly, in spite of being called upon several times a day +to relate to various friends their adventures among the Boxers. After a +week's holiday Fred went back to London to continue his medical studies, +and Mr. Page then began to think what to do with Charlie. + +'I have had enough trawling to last me for a life-time,' Charlie +declared: so the idea of putting him into a steam-trawler company was +dismissed for good. + +'Let us two start business together as merchants,' Ping Wang suggested. +'We could soon work up a good connection with China, I'm certain.' + +Charlie liked the suggestion, and Mr. Page, having gone into the matter +carefully, the firm of Page and Wang was started, and before long +promises to be a prosperous one. Ping Wang decided to become a +naturalised Englishman. + +Their friend, Williams, so they learnt later, was publicly thanked by +the Commander-in-chief of the Allied forces in China for conspicuous +bravery and valuable services rendered on three different occasions. + +H. C. MOORE. + + + + +NICOLO IN VIENNA. + + +Viennese children have a very happy time at Christmas. Not only do they +get the ordinary beautiful presents, but there is another festival for +them, held at the beginning of December--the 'Nicolo.' This is, properly +speaking, only a festival for good children. + +Nicolo, who brings the presents, is very strict in inquiring into the +behaviour of children, and, should he hear that they have not been good, +he does not leave any of his gifts. Every child in Vienna is careful to +hang up his stocking on the eve of the 'Nicolo,' and, on the morning of +the great day, he wakes up very early to see what is in it. Good +children find apples and nuts, but the naughty ones get charcoal instead +of something good to eat. + +In the afternoon of 'Nicolo' Day, the children get ready to receive the +visit of Nicolo himself. A tap is heard at the door, and an old man, +with a long white beard and a white gown, appears. He has a large sack +on his back, bulging with good things--in fact, the bag is often so full +that dolls and whips and whistles can be seen poking out at the top. +Behind the kind Nicolo stands another gentleman, dressed in scarlet and +black. He does not look either good or kind, and carries a number of +birch-rods under his arm. On his back a large basket is strapped; it is +made of wood instead of wicker, and is deep and large. This gentleman is +the most terrible person in Austria--the much-dreaded 'Krampus.' Fearful +stories are told of his dark deeds, and naughty children try to hide +themselves when they see the Krampus. But the Krampus keeps behind the +good Nicolo, and each child is called forward to give an account of +itself. + +Nicolo asks the most awkward questions, such as: 'Who stole his sister's +sweets last week?' 'Who broke her brother's boat?' When all the +questions are answered, the good children receive presents, but naughty +boys and girls do not get anything from Nicolo; instead of a puzzle-box, +a ball, a new knife, or a doll, they get a gift from the Krampus, and +the Krampus only gives one kind of present--a birch-rod. The Vienna +confectioners make sugar dolls like the Krampus, and fill his basket +with sweets. The Krampus is sometimes made of French plums or almonds +and raisins, and his photograph is seen on picture cards. + +E. R. + +[Illustration: Nicolo and the Krampus.] + + + + * * * * * + + + +Transcriber's notes: + + +The following errors in the original have been corrected for this +version. + +Page 14: overhead corrected to overheard + +Page 55: 'I shall drive the youngster back to Castlemore.' Final quote +misprinted in original. + +Page 91: "Inez hung the changed to '"Inez hung the + +Page 102: that Patch changed to than Patch + +Page 103: at abont half-past five changed to at about half-past five + +Page 131: solitude and silence. Period was missing in original + +Page 146: Hats! hats! for those who want them,; extra comma removed + +Page 178: blistered them very much, One changed to blistered them very +much. One + +Page 179: rubbed over the suface changed to rubbed over the surface + +Page 183: anything but Mr Turton.' missing period after Mr added + +Page 211: refining, the raw changed to refining the raw + +Page 214: send in to the authorities changed to send it to the +authorities + +Page 219: 'You looked about you, then? changed to 'You looked about you, +then?' + +Page 222: somewhat like a flower. Missing period added + +clever way in which the trap is made. Missing period added + +keeps it always open. Missing period added + +Page 231: wants me to to have my leg cut off, changed to wants me to +have my leg cut off, + +slopes of the mounttains changed to slopes of the mountains + +Page 238: miles away an the changed to miles away on the + +Page 246: fond of pacing np changed to fond of pacing up + +Page 247: maze and rice fields changed to maize and rice fields + +Page 250: beleagured city changed to beleaguered city + +Page 275: 'Don't shoot. changed to 'Don't shoot.' + +Page 277: Charlie exclaimed to Ping Wing changed to Charlie exclaimed to +Ping Wang + +Page 278: being seen by them changed to being seen by him + +Page 286: "first class," Fred changed to "first class,"' Fred + +Page 306: pigs every day, changed to pigs every day. + +nest full of fledgings changed to nest full of fledglings + +Page 310: do your changed to do you + +Page 314: no loiterers here! changed to no loiterers here!' + +Page 319: 'isn't it a changed to 'Isn't it a + +Page 342: by a moss-grown wall. changed to by a moss-grown wall.' + +Page 343: run in the direction changed to ran in the direction + +Page 347: hostile to foreigners. changed to hostile to foreigners.' + +Page 364: 'violin-beetle changed to 'violin-beetle' + +Page 395: aid of a balloon changed to aid of a balloon. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHATTERBOX, 1905.*** + + +******* This file should be named 20117.txt or 20117.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/0/1/1/20117 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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